There was once, long ago and in ages and times long gone before, in the city of Baghdad, a fisherman, by name Khalif, a man of muckle talk and little luck. One day, as he sat in his cell, he bethought himself and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Would Heaven I knew what is my offence in the sight of my Lord and what caused the blackness of my fortune and my littleness of luck among the fishermen, albeit (and I say it who should not) in the city of Baghdad there is not a fisherman like myself." Now he lodged in a ruined place called a Khan, to wit, an inn, without a door, and when he went forth to fish, he would shoulder the net, without basket or fishslicers, and when the folk would stare at him and say to him, "O Khalif, why not take with you a basket, to hold the fish you catch?"; he would reply, "Even as I carry it forth empty, so would it come back, for I never manage to catch anything." One night he arose, in the darkness before dawn, and taking his net on his shoulder, raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Allah mine, O You who subjectedst the sea to Moses son of Imrán, give me this day

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 185 my daily bread, for You are the best of bread givers! "Then he went down to the Tigris and spreading his net, cast it into the river and waited till it had settled down, when he haled it in and drew it ashore, but behold, it held nothing save a dead dog. So he cast away the carcase, saying, "O morning of ill doom! What a handsel is this dead hound, after I had rejoiced in its weight! "Then he mended the rents in the net, saying, "Needs must there after this carrion be fish in plenty, attracted by the smell," and made a second cast. After awhile, he drew up and found in the net the hough of a camel, that had caught in the meshes and rent them right and left. When Khalif saw his net in this state, he wept and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I wonder what is my offence and the cause of the blackness of my fortune and the littleness of my luck, of all folk, so that I catch neither catfish nor sprat, that I may broil on the embers and eat, for all I dare say there is not in the city of Baghdad a fisherman like me." Then with a Bismillah he cast his net a third time, and presently drawing it ashore found within it an ape scurvy and one eyed, mangy, and limping hending an ivory rod in forehand. When Khalif saw this, he said, "This is indeed a blessed opening! What are you, O ape?" "Do you not know me?" "No, By God, I have no knowledge of you!" "I am yours ape! ""What use is there in you, O my ape? ""Every day I give you good morrow, so Allah may not open to you the door of daily bread." "You fail not of this, O one eye of ill omen! May Allah never bless you!

Needs must I pluck out your sound eye and cut off your whole leg, so you may become a blind cripple and I be quit of you. But what is the use of that rod you hold in hand?" "O Khalif, I scare the fish therewith, so they may not enter your net." "Is it so?: then this very day will I punish you with a grievous punishment and devise you all manner torments and strip your flesh from your bones and be at rest from you, sorry bit of goods that you are!" So saying, Khalif the Fisherman unwound from his middle a strand of rope and binding him to a tree by his side said, "Lookee, O dog of an ape! I mean to cast the net again and if anything come up within it, well and good; but, if it come up empty, I will truly and assuredly make an end of you, with the cruellest tortures and be quit of you, you stinking lot." So he cast the net and drawing it ashore, found in it another ape and said, "Glory be to God the Great! I was wont to pull nothing but fish out of this Tigris, but now it yields nothing but apes."

Then he looked at the second ape and saw him fair of form and round of face with pendants of gold in his ears and a blue waistcloth about his middle, and he was like unto a lighted taper. So he asked him, "What are you, you also, O ape? "; and he answered, saying, "O Khalif, I am the ape of Abu al­Sa'ádát the Jew, the Caliph's shroff. Every day, I give him good morrow, and he makes a profit of ten gold pieces." Cried the Fisherman, "By God, you are a fine ape, not like this ill omened monkey o' mine!" So saying, he took a stick and came down upon the sides of the ape, till he broke his ribs and he jumped up and down. And the other ape, the handsome one, answered him, saying, "O Khalif, what will it profit you to beat him, though you belabour him till he die?" Khalif replied, "How shall I do? Shall I let him go on their way that he may scare me the fish with his hangdog face and give me good even and good morrow every day, so Allah may not open to me the door of daily bread? Nay, I will kill him and be quit of him and I will take you in his stead; so will you give me good morrow and I shall gain ten golden dinars a day." Thereupon the comely ape made answer, "I will tell you a better way than that, and if you hearken to me, you will be at rest and I will become yours ape in lieu of him." Asked the Fisherman, "And what do you counsel me? "; and the ape answered, saying, "Cast your net and you will bring up a noble fish,

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 187 never saw any its like, and I will tell you how you will do with it." Replied Khalif, "Lookee, you too! If I throw my net and there come up within it a third ape, be assured that I will cut the three of you into six bits." And the second ape rejoined, "So be it, O Khalif. I agree to this your condition." Then Khalif spread the net and cast it and drew it up, when behold, in it was a fine young barbel with a round head, as it were a milking pail, which when he saw, his wits fled for joy and he said, "Glory be to God! What is this noble creature? Were that apes in the river, I had not brought up this fish." the seemly ape said, "O Khalif, If you give ear to my advice, 'twill bring you good fortune "; and the Fisherman said, "May God damn him who would gainsay you henceforth! "Thereupon the ape said, "O Khalif, take some grass and lay the fish thereon in the basket and cover it with more grass and take also something of basil from the greengrocer's and set it in the fish's mouth. Cover it with a kerchief and push you through the bazar of Baghdad. Whoever bespeaks you of selling it, sell it not but fare on, till you come to the market street of the jewellers and money changers.

Then count five shops on the right hand side and the sixth shop is that of Abu al­Sa'adat the Jew, the Caliph's Shroff. When you stand before him, he will say to you, What seek you?; and do you make answer, I am a fisherwight, I threw my net in your name and took this noble barbel, which I have brought you as a present. If he give you anything of silver, take it not, be it little or mickle, for it will spoil that which you would do, but say to him, I want of you nothing save one word, that you say to me, I sell you my ape for yours ape and my luck for your luck. An the Jew say this, give him the fish and I shall become yours ape and this crippled, mangy and one eyed ape will be his ape." Khalif replied, "Well said, O ape," nor did he cease faring Baghdad wards and observing that which the ape had said to him, till he came to the Jew's shop and saw the Shroff seated, with eunuchs and pages about him, bidding and forbidding and giving and taking.

So he set down his basket, saying, "O Sultan of the Jews, I am a fisher people and went forth today to the Tigris and casting my net in your name, cried:—This is for the luck of Abu al­Sa'adat; and there came up to me this Banni which I have brought you by way of present." Then he lifted the grass and discovered the fish to the Jew, who marvelled at its make and said, "Extolled be the perfection of the Most Excellent Creator! "Then he gave the fisherman a dinar, but he refused it and he gave him two. This also he refused and the Jew stayed not adding to his offer, till he made it ten dinars; but he still refused and Abu al­Sa'adat said to him, "By God, you are a greedy one. Tell me what you would have, O Moslem! "Khalif said, "I would have of you but a single word." When the Jew heard this, he changed colour and said, "Would you oust me from my faith? go your ways; "and Khalif said to him, "By God, O Jew, nothing matters If you become a Moslem or a Nazarene! Asked the Jew, "Then what would you have me say? "; and the fisherman answered, "Say, I sell you my ape for your ape and my luck for your luck."

The Jew laughed, deeming him little of wit, and said by way of jest, "I sell you my ape for your ape and my luck for your luck. Bear witness against him, O merchants! By God, O unhappy, you are debarred from further claim on me!" So Khalif turned back, blaming himself and saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Alas that I did not take the gold! "And fared on blaming himself in the matter of the money till he came to the Tigris, but found not the two apes, whereupon he wept and slapped his face and strewed dust on his head, saying, "But that the second ape wheedled me and put a cheat on me, the one eyed ape had not escaped." And he gave not over wailing and weeping, till heat and hunger grew sore on him: so he took the net, saying, Come, let us make a cast, trusting in Allah's blessing; Perhaps I may catch a catfish or a barbel which I may boil and eat." So he threw the net and waiting till it had settled, drew it ashore and found it full of fish, at which he was consoled and rejoiced and busied himself with unmeshing the fish and casting them on the earth. Presently, up came a woman seeking fish

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 189 and crying out, "Fish is not to be found in the town." She caught sight of Khalif, and said to him, "Will you sell this fish, O Master?" Answered Khalif, "I am going to turn it into clothes, 'tis all for sale, even to my beard Take what you will." So she gave him a dinar and he filled her basket. Then she went away and behold, up came another servant, seeking a dinar's worth of fish; nor did the folk cease till it was the hour of mid afternoon prayer and Khalif had sold ten golden dinars' worth of fish. Then, being faint and famisht, he folded and shouldered his net and, repairing to the market, bought himself a woollen gown, a calotte with a plaited boarder and a honey coloured turband for a dinar, receiving two dirhams by way of change, wherewith he purchased fried cheese and a fat sheep's tail and honey and setting them in the oilman's platter, ate till he was full and his ribs felt cold from the mighty stuffing. Then he marched off to his lodgings in the magazine, clad in the gown and the honey coloured turband and with the nine golden dinars in his mouth, rejoicing in what he had never in his life seen. He entered and lay down, but could not sleep for anxious thoughts and abode playing with the money half the night.

Then he said in himself, "Perhaps the Caliph may hear that I have gold and say to Ja'afar:—Go to Khalif the Fisherman and borrow us some money of him. If I give it him, it will be no light matter to me, and if I give it not, he will torment me; but torture is easier to me than the giving up of the cash. However, I will arise and make trial of myself if I have a skin proof against stick or not." So he put off his clothes and taking a sailor's plaited whip, of an hundred and sixty strands, did not stop beating himself, till his sides and body were all bloody, crying out at every stroke he dealt himself and saying "O Moslems! I am a poor man! O Moslems, I am a poor man! O Moslems, from where should I have gold, from where should I have coin? "till the neighbours, who dwelt with him in that place, hearing him crying and saying, "Go to men of wealth and take of them," thought that thieves were torturing him, to get money from him, and that he was praying for aidance. Accordingly they flocked to him each armed with some weapon and finding the door of his lodging locked and hearing him roaring out for help, deemed that the thieves had come down upon him from the terrace roof; so they fell upon the door and burst it open.

Then they entered and found him mother naked and bareheaded with body dripping blood, and altogether in a sad pickle; so they asked him, "What is this case in which we find you? Have you lost your wits and has Jinn madness happened you this night?" And he answered them, "Nay; but I have gold with me and I feared lest the Caliph send to borrow of me and it were no light matter to give him anything; yet, If I gave not to him 'tis only too sure that he would put me to the torture; Why I arose to see if my skin were stick proof or not." When they heard these words they said to him, "May Allah not assain your body, unlucky madman that you are! Of a surety you are fallen mad tonight! Lie down to sleep, may Allah never bless you! How many thousand dinars have you, that the Caliph should come and borrow of you? "He replied, "By God, I have nothing but nine dinars." And they all said, "By God, he is not otherwise than passing rich! "Then they left him wondering at his want of wit, and Khalif took his cash and wrapped it in a rag, saying to himself, "Where shall I hide all this gold? If I bury it, they will take it, and if I put it out on deposit, they will deny that I did so, and if I carry it on my head, they will snatch it, and if I tie it to my sleeve, they will cut it away."

Presently, he espied a little breast pocket in the gown and said, "By God, this is fine! 'Tis under my throat and close by my mouth: if any put out his hand to hend it, I can come down on it with my mouth and hide it in my throttle." So he set the rag containing the gold in the pocket and lay down, but slept not that night for suspicion and trouble and anxious thought. On the morrow, he fared forth of his lodging on fishing intent

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 191 and, betaking himself to the river, went down into the water, up to his knees. Then he threw the net and shook it with might and main; whereupon the purse fell down into the stream. So he tore off gown and turband and plunged in after it, saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" Nor did he give over diving and searching the stream bed, till the day was half spent, but found not the purse. Now one saw him from afar diving and plunging and his gown and turband lying in the sun at a distance from him, with no one by them; so he watched him, till he dived again when he dashed at the clothes and made off with them. Presently, Khalif came ashore and, missing his gown and turband, was chagrined for their loss with passing cark and care and ascended a mound, to look for some passer by, of whom he might enquire concerning them, but found none. Now the Caliph Harun al­Rashid had gone a hunting and chasing that day; and, returning at the time of the noon heat, was oppressed by that and thirsted; so he looked for water from afar and seeing a naked man standing on the mound said to Ja'afar, "See you what I see?"

Replied the Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful; I see a man standing on a hillock." Al­Rashid asked, "What is he?"; and Ja'afar answered, "Perhaps he is the guardian of a cucumber plot." the Caliph said, "Perhaps he is a pious man; I would glad go to him, alone, and desire of him his prayers; and abide you where you are." So he went up to Khalif and saluting him with the salam said to him, "What are you, O man? "Replied the fisherman, "Do you not know me? I am Khalif the Fisherman;" and the Caliph rejoined, "What? The fisherman with the woollen gown and the honey coloured turband?" When Khalif heard him name the clothes he had lost, he said in himself, "This is he who took my duds: Perhaps he did but jest with me." So he came down from the knoll and said, "Can I not take a noontide nap but you must trick me this trick? I saw you take my gear and knew that you were joking with me." At this, laughter got the better of the Caliph and he said,

"What clothes have you lost? I know nothing of that whereof you speak, O Khalif." Cried the Fisherman, "By God the Great, except you bring me back the gear, I will smash your ribs with this staff! "(For he always carried a quarterstaff.) the Caliph said, "By God, I have not seen the things whereof you speak! "; and Khalif said, "I will go with you and take note of your dwelling place and complain of you to the Chief of Police, so you may not trick me this trick again. By God, none took my gown and turband but you, and except you give them back to me at once, I will throw you off the back of that she ass you ride and come down on your head with this quarterstaff, till you can not stir!" Thereupon he tugged at the bridle of the mule so that she reared up on her hind legs and the Caliph said to himself, "What calamity is this I have fallen into with this madman? "Then he pulled off a gown he had on, worth an hundred dinars, and said to Khalif, "Take this gown in lieu of yours own." He took it and donning it saw it was too long; so he cut it short at the knees and turbanded his head with the cut off piece; then said to the Caliph, "What are you and what is your craft? But why ask? You are none other than a trumpeter."

Al­Rashid asked, "What showed you that I was a trumpeter by trade? "; and Khalif answered, "Your big nostrils and little mouth." Cried the Caliph, "Well guessed! Yes, I am of that craft." Then said Khalif, "If you will hearken to me, I will teach you the art of fishing: 'twill be better for you than trumpeting and you will eat lawfully." Replied the Caliph, "Teach it me so that I may see whether I am capable of learning it." And Khalif said, "Come with me, O trumpeter." So the Caliph followed him down to the river and took the net from him, whilst he taught him how to throw it. Then he cast it and drew it up, when, behold, it was heavy, and the fisherman said, "O trumpeter, an the net be caught on one of the rocks, drag it not too hard, or 'twill break and By God, I will take your she ass in payment of it!" The Caliph laughed at his words and drew up the net, little by little, till he brought it ashore and found it full of fish; which when Khalif saw, his reason fled for joy and presently he cried,

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 193

"By God, O trumpeter, your luck is good in fishing! Never in my life will I part with you! But now I mean to send you to the fish bazar, where do you enquire for the shop of Humayd the fisherman and say to him:—My master Khalif saluts you and bids you send him a pair of frails and a knife, so he may bring you more fish than yesterday. Run and return to me directly! "The Caliph replied (and indeed he was laughing), "On my head, O master!" And, mounting his mule, rode back to Ja'afar, who said to him, "Tell me what has happened you." So the Caliph told him all that had passed between Khalif the Fisherman and himself, from beginning to end, adding, "I left him awaiting my return to him with the baskets and I am resolved that he shall teach me how to scale fish and clean them." Ja'afar said, "And I will go with you to sweep up the scales and clean out the shop." And the affair abode thus, till presently the Caliph cried, "O Ja'afar, I desire of you that you despatch the young Mamelukes, saying to them:—whoever brings me a fish from before that fisherman, I will give him a dinar; for I love to eat of my own fishing."

Accordingly Ja'afar repeated to the young white slaves what the Caliph had said and directed them where to find the man. They came down upon Khalif and snatched the fish from him; and when he saw them and noted their goodliness, he doubted not but that they were of the black eyed Houris of Paradise: so he caught up a couple of fish and ran into the river, saying, "O Allah mine, by the secret virtue of these fish, forgive me!" Suddenly, up came the chief eunuch, questing fish, but he found none; so seeing Khalif ducking and rising in the water, with the two fish in his hands, called out to him, saying, "O Khalif, what have you there? "Replied the fisherman, "Two fish," and the eunuch said, "Give them to me and take an hundred dinars for them."

Now when Khalif heard speak of an hundred dinars, he came up out of the water and cried, "Hand over the hundred dinars." Said the eunuch, "Follow me to the house of Al­Rashid and receive your gold, O Khalif;" and, taking the fish, made off to the Palace of the Caliphate. Meanwhile Khalif betook himself to Baghdad, clad as he was in the Caliph's gown, which reached only to above his knees, turbanded with the piece he had cut off from it and girt about his middle with a rope, and he pushed through the centre of the city. The folk fell a laughing and marvelling at him and saying, "from where had you that robe of honour? "But he went on, asking, "Where is the house of Al­Rashád?;" and they answered, "Say, 'The house of Al­Rashíd';" and he rejoined, "'Tis all the same," and fared on, till he came to the Palace of the Caliphate. Now he was seen by the tailor, who had made the gown and who was standing at the door, and when he noticed it upon the Fisherman, he said to him, "For how many years have you had admission to the palace?" Khalif replied, "Ever since I was a little one; "and the tailor asked, "from where hadest you that gown you have spoilt in this way? "Khalif answered, "I had it of my apprentice the trumpeter."

Then he went up to the door, where he found the Chief Eunuch sitting with the two fishes by his side: and seeing him sable black of hue, said to him, "Will you not bring the hundred dinars, O uncle Tulip?" He said, "On my head, O Khalif," when, behold, out came Ja'afar from the presence of the Caliph and seeing the fisherman talking with the Eunuch and saying to him, "This is the reward of goodness, O nuncle Tulip," went in to Al­Rashid and said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, your master the Fisherman is with the Chief Eunuch, dunning him for an hundred dinars." Cried the Caliph, "Bring him to me, O Ja'afar;" and the Minister answered, "Hearing and obeying." So he went out to the Fisherman and said to him, "O Khalif, yours apprentice the trumpeter bids you to him;" then he walked on, followed by the other till they reached the presence chamber, where he saw the Caliph seated, with a canopy over his head. When he entered, Al­Rashid wrote three scrolls and set them before him, and the Fisherman said to him, "So you have given up trumpeting and turned astrologer! "The Caliph to him said, "Take you a scroll."

Now in the first he had written, "Let him be given a gold piece," in the second, "An hundred dinars," and in the third, "Let him be given an hundred blows with a whip." So Khalif put out his hand and by the decree of the Predestinator, it lighted on the scroll in which was written, "Let him receive an hundred lashes," and Kings, whenas they ordain anything, go not back from it. So they threw him prone on the ground and beat him an hundred blows, whilst he wept and roared for succour, but none succoured

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 195 him, and said, "By God, this is a good joke O trumpeter! I teach you fishing and you turnest astrologer and drawest me an unlucky lot. Fie upon you, in you is nothing of good!" When the Caliph heard his speech, he fell fainting in a fit of laughter and said, "O Khalif, no harm shall happen you: fear not. Give him an hundred gold pieces." So they gave him an hundred dinars, and he went out, and did not stop faring forth till he came to the trunk market, where he found the folk assembled in a ring about a broker, who was crying out and saying, "At an hundred dinars, less one dinar! A locked chest! "So he pressed on and pushed through the crowd and said to the broker, "Mine for an hundred dinars!" The broker closed with him and took his money, whereupon there was left him nor little nor much. The porters disputed awhile about who should carry the chest and presently all said, "By God, none shall carry this chest but Zurayk! " And the folk said, "Blue eyes has the best right to it." So Zurayk shouldered the chest, after the goodliest fashion, and walked arear of Khalif. As they went along, the Fisherman said in himself, "I have nothing left to give the porter; how shall I rid myself of him?

Now I will traverse the main streets with him and lead him about, till he be weary and set it down and leave it, when I will take it up and carry it to my lodging." Accordingly, he went round about the city with the porter from noontide to sundown, till the man began to grumble and said, "O my lord, where is your house? "Khalif said, "Yesterday I knew it, but today I have forgotten it." And the porter said, "Give me my hire and take your chest." But Khalif said, "Go on at your leisure, till I bethink me where my house is," presently adding, "O Zurayk, I have no money with me. 'Tis all in my house and I have forgotten where it is." As they were talking, there passed by them one who knew the Fisherman and said to him, "O Khalif, what brings you here?" the porter said, "O uncle, where is Khalif's house?" and He said, " 'Tis in the ruined Khan in the Rawásín Quarter."; Then said Zurayk to Khalif, "Go to; would Heaven you had never lived nor been! "And the Fisherman trudged on, followed by the porter, till they came to the place when the Hammal said, "O you whose daily bread Allah cut off in this world, have we not passed this place a score of times? Had you said to me, 'Tis in such a stead, you had spared me this great toil; but now give me my wage and let me go on their way."

Khalif replied, "You will have silver, if not gold. Stay here, till I bring you the same." So he entered his lodging and taking a mallet he had there, studded with forty nails (wherewith If he smote a camel, he had made an end of it), rushed upon the porter and raised his forearm to strike him therewith; but Zurayk cried out at him, saying, "Hold your hand! I have no claim on you," and fled. Now having got rid of the Hammal, Khalif carried the chest into the Khan, whereupon the neighbours came down and flocked about him, saying, "O Khalif, from where had you this robe and this chest?" He said, "From my apprentice Al­Rashid who gave them to me," and they said, "The pimp is mad! Al­Rashid will assuredly hear of his talk and hang him over the door of his lodging and hang all in the Khan on account of the droll. This is a fine farce! "Then they helped him to carry the chest into his lodging and it filled the whole closet. Thus far concerning Khalif; but as for the history of the chest, it was as follows: The Caliph had a Turkish slave girl, by name Kut al­Kulúb, whom he loved with love exceeding and the Lady Zubaydah came to know of this from himself and was passing jealous of her and secretly plotted mischief against her. So, whilst the Commander of the Faithful was absent a sporting and a hunting, she sent for Kut al­Kulub and, inviting her to a banquet, set before her meat and wine, and she ate and drank.

Now the wine was drugged with Bhang; so she slept and Zubaydah sent for her Chief Eunuch and putting her in a great chest, locked it and gave it to him, saying, "Take this chest and cast it into the river." Thereupon he took it up before him on a he mule and set out with it for the sea, but found it unfit to carry; so, as he passed by the trunk market, he saw the Shaykh of the brokers and salesmen and said to him, "Will you sell me this chest, O uncle? "The broker replied, "Yes, we will do this much." "But," said the Eunuch, "look you sell it not except locked;" and the other,

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 197

" 'Tis well; we will do that also." So he set down the chest, and they cried it for sale, saying, "Who will buy this chest for an hundred dinars? "; and behold, up came Khalif the Fisherman and bought the chest after turning it over right and left; and there passed between him and the porter that which has been before set out. Now as regards Khalif the Fisherman; he lay down on the chest to sleep, and presently Kut al­Kulub awoke from her Bhang and finding herself in the chest, cried out and said, "Alas I "Whereupon Khalif sprang off the chest lid and cried out and said, "Ho, Moslems! Come to my help! There are Ifrits in the chest." So the neighbours awoke from sleep and said to him, "What matters you, O madman? "He said, "The chest is full of Ifrits;" and They said, "Go to sleep; you have troubled our rest this night may Allah not bless you! Go in and sleep, without madness." He ejaculated, "I cannot sleep;" but they abused him and he went in and lay down once more. And behold, Kut al­Kulub spoke and said, "Where am I?" Upon which Khalif fled forth the closet and said, "O neighbours of the hostelry, come to my aid! "They said, "What has befallen you? You troublest the neighbours' rest." "O folk, there be Ifrits in the chest, moving and speaking." "You lie: what do they say? ""They say, Where am I?" "Would Heaven you were in Hell? You disturbest the neighbours and hinderest them of sleep. Go to sleep, would you had never lived nor been!"

So Khalif went in fearful because he had no place in which to sleep save upon the chest lid when to! As he stood, with ears listening for speech, Kut al­Kulub spoke again and said, "I'm hungry." So in sore affright he fled forth and cried out, "Ho neighbours! Ho dwellers in the Khan, come aid me! "They said, "What is your calamity now? " And he answered, "The Ifrits in the chest say, We are hungry." the neighbours one to other said, "'Twould seem Khalif is hungry; let us feed him and give him the supper orts; else he will not let us sleep tonight." So they brought him bread and meat and broken victuals and radishes and gave him a basket full of all kinds of things, saying, "Eat till you be full and go to sleep and talk not, else will we break your ribs and beat you to death this very night." So he took the basket with the provisions and entered his lodging. Now it was a moonlight night and the moon shone in full sheen upon the chest and lit up the closet with its light, seeing this he sat down on his purchase and fell to eating of the food with both hands. Presently, Kut al­Kulub spoke again and said, "Open to me and have mercy upon me, O Moslems!"

So Khalif arose and taking a stone he had by him, broke the chest open and behold, within it lay a young lady as she were the sun's shining light with brow flower white, face moon bright, cheeks of rose hue exquisite and speech sweeter than sugar bite, and in dress worth a thousand dinars and more bedight. Seeing this his wits flew from his head for joy and he said, "By God, you are of the fair! "She asked him, "What are you, O fellow?" and he answered, "O my lady, I am Khalif the Fisherman." She said, "Who brought me here? "; and He said, "I bought you, and you are my slave girl." Thereupon she said, "I see on you a robe of the raiment of the Caliph." So he told her all that had happened him, from beginning to end, and how he had bought the chest; Why she knew that the Lady Zubaydah had played her false; and she did not stop talking with him till the morning, when she said to him, "O Khalif, seek me from some one inkcase and reed pen and paper and bring them to me." So he found with one of the neighbours what she sought and brought it to her, whereupon she wrote a letter and folded it and gave it to him, saying, "O Khalif, take this paper and carry it to the jewel market, where do you enquire for the shop of Abu al­Hasan the jeweller and give it to him."

Answered the Fisherman, "O my lady, this name is difficult to me; I cannot remember it." And she rejoined, "Then ask for the shop of Ibn al­'Ukáb." He said, "O my lady, what is an 'Ukab? "; and She said, "'Tis a bird which folk carry on fist with eyes hooded." And he exclaimed, "O my lady, I know it." Then he went forth from her and fared on, repeating the name, lest it fade from his memory; but, by the time he reached the jewel market, he had forgotten it. So he accosted one of the merchants and said to him, "Is there any here named after a bird? "Replied the merchant, "Yes, you meanest Ibn al­Ukab." Khalif cried, "That's the man I want," and making his way to him, gave him the letter, which when he read and knew the purport of it,

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 199 he fell to kissing it and laying it on his head; for it is said that Abu al­Hasan was the agent of the Lady Kut al­Kulub and her intendant over all her property in lands and houses. Now she had written to him, saying, "From Her Highness the Lady Kut al­Kulub to Sir Abu al­Hasan the jeweller. The instant this letter reaches you, set apart for us a saloon completely equipped with furniture and vessels and negro slaves and slave girls and what not else is needful for our residence and seemly, and take the bearer of the missive and carry him to the bath. Then clothe him in costly apparel and do with him thus and thus." So he said, "Hearing and obeying," and locking up his shop, took the Fisherman and bore him to the bath, where he committed him to one of the bathmen, that he might serve him, according to custom. Then he went forth to carry out the Lady Kut al­Kulub's orders. As for Khalif, he concluded, of his lack of wit and stupidity, that the bath was a prison and said to the bathman, "What crime have I committed that you should lay me in limbo? "They laughed at him and made him sit on the side of the tank, whilst the bathman took hold of his legs, that he might shampoo them. Khalif thought he meant to wrestle with him and said to himself, "This is a wrestling place and I knew nothing of it."

Then he arose and seizing the bathman's legs, lifted him up and threw him on the ground and broke his ribs. The man cried out for help, whereupon the other bathmen came in a crowd and fell upon Khalif and overcoming him by dint of numbers, delivered their comrade from his clutches and tunded him till he came to himself. Then they knew that the Fisherman was a simpleton and served him till Abu al­Hasan came back with a dress of rich stuff and clad him within it; after which he brought him a handsome she mule, ready saddled, and taking him by the hand, carried him forth of the bath and said to him, "Mount." He said, "How shall I mount? I fear lest she throw me and break my ribs into my belly." Nor would he back the mule, save after much travail and trouble, and they did not stop faring on, till they came to the place which Abu al­Hasan had set apart for the Lady Kut al­Kulub. Thereupon Khalif entered and found her sitting, with slaves and eunuchs about her and the porter at the door, staff in hand, who when he saw the Fisherman sprang up and kissing his hand, went before him, till he brought him within the saloon. Here the Fisherman saw what amazed his wit, and his eye was dazzled by that which he beheld of riches past count and slaves and servants, who kissed his hand and said, May the bath be a blessing to you!

When he entered the saloon and drew near unto Kut al­Kulub, she sprang up to him and taking him by the hand, seated him on a high mattrassed divan. Then she brought him a vase of sherbet of sugar, mingled with rose water and willow water, and he took it and drank it off and did not leave a single drop. Moreover, he ran his finger round the inside of the vessel and would have licked it, but she forbade him, saying, "That is foul." He said, "Silence; this is nothing but good honey;" and she laughed at him and set before him a tray of meats, whereof he ate his sufficiency. Then they brought an ewer and basin of gold, and he washed his right hand and abode in the gladdest of life and the most honourable. Now hear what befell the Commander of the Faithful. When he came back from his journey and found not Kut al­Kulub, he questioned the Lady Zubaydah of her and she said, "She is truly dead, may your head live, O Prince of True Believers!" But she had bidden dig a grave In the very middle of the Palace and had built over it a mock tomb, for her knowledge of the love the Caliph bore to Kut al­Kulub: so she said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, I made her a tomb amiddle most the Palace and buried her there."

Then she donned black, a mere sham and pure pretence; and feigned mourning a great while. Now Kut al­Kulub knew that the Caliph was come back from his hunting excursion; so she turned to Khalif and said to him, "Arise; hie you to the bath and come back." So he rose and went to the Hammam bath, and when he returned, she clad him in a dress worth a thousand dinars and taught him manners and respectful bearing to superiors. Then she said to him, "Go hence to the Caliph and say to him: "O Commander of the Faithful, 'tis my desire that this night you deign be my guest." So Khalif arose and mounting his she mule, rode, with pages and black slaves before him, till he came to the Palace of the Caliphate.

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 201 the wise said, "Dress up a stick and twill look chique." And indeed his comeliness was manifest and his goodliness and the folk marvelled at this. Presently, the Chief Eunuch saw him, the same who had given him the hundred dinars that had been the cause of his good fortune so he went in to the Caliph and said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, Khalif the Fisherman is become a King, and on him is a robe of honour worth a thousand dinars." The Prince of True Believers bade admit him; so he entered and said, "Peace be with you, O Commander of the Faithful and Vice regent of the Lord of the three Worlds and Defender of the folk of the Faith! Allah Almighty prolong your days and honour your dominion and exalt your degree to the highmost height!" The Caliph looked at him and marvelled at him and how fortune had come to him at unawares; then he said to him, "O Khalif, from where had you that robe which is upon you?" He replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, it comes from my house." the Caliph said, "Have you then a house? "; and Khalif said, "Yea, truly! And you, O Commander of the Faithful, art my guest this day."

Al­Rashid said, "I alone, O Khalif, or I and those who are with me?"; and he replied, "You and whom you will." So Ja'afar turned to him and said, "We will be your guests this night;" whereupon he kissed ground again and withdrawing, mounted his mule and rode off, attended by his servants and suite of Mamelukes leaving the Caliph marvelling at this and saying to Ja'afar, "saw you Khalif, with his mule and dress, his white slaves and his dignity? But yesterday I knew him for a buffoon and a jester." And they marvelled at this much. Then they mounted and rode, till they drew near Khalif's house, when the Fisherman alighted and, taking a bundle from one of his attendants, opened it and pulled out from it a piece of tabby silk and spread it under the hoofs of the Caliph's she mule; then he brought out a piece of velvet Kimcob and a third of fine satin and did with them likewise; and thus he spread well near twenty pieces of rich stuffs, till Al­Rashid and his suite had reached the house; when he came forward and said, "Bismillah, O Commander of the Faithful!" Said Al­Rashid to Ja'afar, "I wonder to whom this house may belong," and He said, "It belongs to a man called Ibn al­Ukab, Syndic of the Jewellers."

So the Caliph dismounted and entering, with his courtiers, saw a high builded saloon, spacious and boon, with couches on dais and carpets and divans strown in place. So he went up to the couch that was set for himself on four legs of ivory, plated with glittering gold and covered with seven carpets. This pleased him and behold, up came Khalif, with eunuchs and little white slaves, bearing all manner sherbets, compounded with sugar and lemon and perfumed with rose and willow water and the purest musk. The Fisherman advanced and drank and gave the Caliph to drink, and the cup bearers came forward and served the rest of the company with the sherbets. Then Khalif brought a table spread with meats of various colours and geese and fowls and other birds, saying, "In the name of Allah!" So they ate their fill; after which he bade remove the tables and kissing the ground three times before the Caliph craved his royal leave to bring wine and music. He granted him permission for this and turning to Ja'afar, said to him, "As my head lives, the house and that which is within it is Khalif's; for that he is ruler over it and I am in admiration at him, from where there came to him this passing prosperity and exceeding felicity! However, this is no great matter to Him who says to a thing, 'Be!' and it becomes; what I most wonder at is his understanding, how it has increased, and from where he has gotten this loftiness and this lordliness; but, when Allah wills weal unto a man, He amends his intelligence before bringing him to worldly affluence." As they were talking, behold, up came Khalif, followed by cup bearer lads like moons, belted with zones of gold, who spread a cloth of siglaton and set thereon flagons of chinaware and tall flasks of glass and cups of crystal and bottles and hanaps of all colours; and those flagons they filled with pure clear and old wine, whose scent

Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. 203 was as the fragrance of virgin musk and it was even as says the poet:

Ply me and also my mate be plied With pure wine prest in the olden tide. Daughter of nobles they lead her forth In raiment of goblets beautified They belt her round with the brightest gems, And pearls and unions, the Ocean's pride; So I by these signs and signets know Why the Wine is entitled "Bride."

And round about these vessels were confections and flowers, such as may not be surpassed. When Al­Rashid saw this from Khalif, he inclined to him and smiled upon him and invested him with an office; so Khalif wished him continuance of honour and endurance of days and said, "Will the Commander of the Faithful deign give me leave to bring him a singer, a lute player her like was never heard among mortals ever?" the Caliph said, "You are permitted!" So he kissed ground before him and going to a secret closet, called Kut al­Kulub, who came after she had disguised and falsed and veiled herself, tripping in her robes and trinkets; and she kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful. Then she sat down and tuning the lute, touched its strings and played upon it, till all present were like to faint for excess of delight; after which she improvised these verses:

Would Heaven I know, will ever Time bring our beloveds back again? And, ah! will Union and its bliss to bless two lovers deign? Will Time assure to us united days and joined joy, While from the storms and stowres of life in safety we remain? Then O Who bade this pleasure be, our parting past and gone, And made one house our meeting stead throughout the Nights contain; By him, draw near me, love, and closest cling to side of me Else were my wearied wasted life, a vanity, a bane.

When the Caliph heard this, he could not master himself, but rent his raiment and fell down a swoon; whereupon all who were present hastened to doff their dress and throw it over him, whilst Kut al­Kulub signed to Khalif and said to him, "Hie to that chest and bring us what is within it;" for she had made ready within it a suit of the Caliph's wear against the like of such hour as this. So Khalif brought it to her and she threw it over the Commander of the Faithful, who came to himself and knowing her for Kut al­Kulub said, "Is this the Day of Resurrection and has Allah quickened those who are in the tombs; or am I asleep and is this an imbroglio of dreams?" Kut said,al­Kulub, "We are on wake, not on sleep, and I am alive, nor have I drained the cup of death." Then she told him all that had befallen her, and indeed, since he lost her, life had not been light to him nor had sleep been sweet, and he abode now wondering, then weeping and soon afire for longing. When she had made an end of her story, the Caliph rose and took her by the hand, intending for her palace, after he had kissed her inner lips, and had strained her to his bosom; whereupon Khalif rose and said, "By God, O Commander of the Faithful! You have already wronged me once, and now you wrongest me again."

Said Al­Rashid, "Indeed you speak truth, O Khalif," and bade the Wazir Ja'afar give him what should satisfy him. So he At once gifted him with all for which he wished and assigned him a village, the yearly revenues whereof were twenty thousand dinars. Moreover Kut al­Kulub generously presented him the house and all that was within it of furniture and hangings and white slaves and slave girls and eunuchs great and small. So Khalif became possessed of this passing affluence and exceeding wealth and took him a wife, and prosperity taught him gravity and dignity, and good fortune overwhelmed him. The Caliph enrolled him among his equerries and he abode in all solace of life and its delights till he deceased and was admitted to the mercy of Allah. Furthermore they relate a tale anent Masrur and Zayn al­Mawasif.

Masrur and Zayn al­Mawasif. 205