Al Khasín, Wazir of Egypt, had a son named Ibrahim, than whom there was none goodlier, and of his fear for him, he suffered him not to go forth, save to the Friday prayers. One day, as the youth was returning from the mosque, he came upon an old man, with whom were many books; so he lighted down from his horse and seating himself beside him, began to turn over the tomes and examine them. In one of them he espied the semblance of a woman which all but spoke, never was seen on the earth's face one more beautiful; and as this captivated his reason and confounded his wit, he said to the old man, "O Shaykh, sell me this picture." The bookseller kissed ground between his hands and said, "O my lord, 'tis yours without price." Ibrahim gave him an hundred dinars and taking the book in which was the picture, fell to gazing upon it and weeping night and day, abstaining from meat and drink and sleep. Then he said in his mind, "If I ask the book seller of the painter of this picture, perhaps he will tell me; and if the original be living, I will seek access to her; but, if it be only a picture, I will leave doting upon it and plague myself no more for a thing which has no real existence."—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Fifty third night

She pursued, the youth Ibrahim said in his mind, "If I ask the bookseller of the painter of this picture, perhaps he will tell me; and, if it be only a picture, I will leave doting upon it and plague myself no more for a thing which has no real existence." So on the next Friday he betook himself to the bookseller, who sprang up to receive him, and said to him, "Oh uncle, tell me who painted this picture." He replied, "O my lord, a man of the people of Baghdad painted it, by name Abu al-Kásim al-Sandaláni who dwells in a quarter called Al-Karkh; but I know not of whom it is the portraiture." So Ibrahim left him without acquainting any of his household with his case, and returned to the palace, after praying the Friday prayers. Then he took a bag and filling it with gold and gems to the value of thirty thousand dinars, waited till the morning, when he went out, without telling any, and presently overtook a caravan. Here he saw a Badawi and asked him, "O uncle, what distance is between me and Baghdad?", and the other answered, "O my son, where are you, and where is Baghdad? truly, between you and it is two months' journey." said Ibrahim "O nuncle, If you will guide me to Baghdad, I will give you an hundred dinars and this mare under me that is worth other thousand gold pieces;" and the Badawi "Allah be witness of what we say! You will not lodge this night but with me." So Ibrahim agreed to this and passed

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 209 the night with him. At break of dawn, the Badawi took him and fared on with him in haste by a near road, in his greed for the mare and the promised good; nor did they leave wayfaring till they came to the walls of Baghdad, when said the wildling, "Praised be Allah for Safety! O my lord, this is Baghdad." at which Ibrahim rejoiced with exceeding joy and alighting from the mare, gave her to the Desert man, together with the hundred dinars. Then he took the bag and entering the city walked on, enquiring for the quarter Al-Karkh and the station of the merchants, till Destiny drave him to a by way, in which were ten houses, five fronting five, and at the farther end was a two leaved door with a silver ring. By the gate stood two benches of marble, spread with the finest carpets, and on one of them sat a man of handsome aspect and reverend, clad in sumptuous clothing and attended by five Mamelukes like moons. When the youth Ibrahim saw the street, he knew it by the description the bookseller had given him; so he salamed to the man, who returned his salutation and bidding him welcome, made him sit down and asked him of his case. said Ibrahim "I am a stranger man and desire of your favour that you look me out a house in this street where I may take up my abode."

With this the other cried out, saying, "Ho, Ghazálah!"; and there came forth to him a slave girl, who said, "At your service, O my lord!" Said her master, "Take some servants and fare you all and every to such a house and clean it and furnish it with whatever is needful for this handsome youth." So she went forth and did his bidding; whilst the old man took the youth and showed him the house; and he said, "O my lord, how much may be the rent of this house?" The other answered, "O bright of face, I will take no rent of you whilst you abide within it." Ibrahim thanked him for this and the old man called another slave girl, whereupon there came forth to him a damsel like the sun, to whom he said, "Bring chess." So she brought it and one of the servants set the cloth; where upon said the Shaykh to Ibrahim, "Will you play with me?"; and he answered, "Yes." So they played several games and Ibrahim beat him, when his adversary exclaimed, "Well done, O youth! You are indeed perfect in qualities.

By God, there is not one in Baghdad can beat me, and yet you have beaten me!"

Now when they had made ready the house and furnished it with all that was needful, the old man delivered the keys to Ibrahim and said to him, "O my lord, will you not enter my place and eat of my bread?" He assented and walking in with him, found it a handsome house and a goodly, decorated with gold and full of all kinds pictures and furniture galore and other things, such as tongue fails to set out. The old man welcomed him and called for food, whereupon they brought a table of the make of Sana'a of Al-Yaman and spread it with all manner rare viands, than which there was nothing costlier nor more delicious. So Ibrahim ate his sufficiency, after which he washed his hands and proceeded to inspect the house and furniture. Presently, he turned to look for the leather bag, but found it not and said in himself, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I have eaten a morsel worth a dirham or two and have lost a bag in which is thirty thousand dinars' worth: but I seek aid of Allah!" And he was silent and could not speak, —

When it was the Nine Hundred and Fifty fourth night

; and he said, "Yes." So they played and the old man beat him. Ibrahim cried, "Well done!" And left playing and rose: upon which his host asked him, "What ails you, O youth?" whereto he answered, "I want the bag." Thereupon the Shaykh rose and brought it out to him, saying, "Here it is, O my lord. Will you now return to playing with me?" "Yes," replied Ibrahim. Accordingly they played and the young man beat him. the Shaykh "When your thought was occupied with the bag, I beat you: but, now I have brought it back to you, you beatest me. But, tell me, O my son, what countryman are you." said Ibrahim "I am from Egypt," and the oldster "And what is the cause of your coming to Baghdad?"; whereupon Ibrahim brought out the portrait and said to him, "Know, O uncle, that I am the son of Al-Kasib, Wazir of Egypt, and I saw

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 211 with a bookseller this picture, which bewildered my wit. I asked him who painted it and he said, 'He who wrought it is a man Abu al-Kasim al-Sandalani called, who dwells in a street called the Street of Saffron in the Karkh quarter of Baghdad.' So I took with me something of money and came here alone, none knowing of my case; and I desire of the fulness of your favour that you direct me to Abu al-Kasim, so I may ask him of the cause of his painting this picture and whose portrait it is. And whatever he desires of me, I will give him that same." Said his host, "By God, O my son, I am Abu al-Kasim al-Sandalani, and this is a prodigious thing how Fate has thus driven you to me!"

Now when Ibrahim heard these words, he rose to him and embraced him and kissed his head and hands, saying, "in God's name, tell me whose portrait it is!" The other replied. "I hear and I obey," and rising, opened a closet and brought out a number of books, in which he had painted the same picture. Then he said, "Know, O my son, that the original of this portrait is my cousin, the daughter of my father's brother, whose name is Abú al-Lays. She dwells in Bassorah of which city her father is governor, and her name is Jamilah the beautiful. There is not on the face of the earth a fairer than she; but she is averse from men and cannot hear the word 'man' pronounced in her presence. Now I once repaired to my uncle, to the intent that he should marry me to her, and was lavish of wealth to him, but he would not consent thereto: and when his daughter knew of this she was indignant and sent to me to say, amongst other things, 'If you have wit, tarry not in this town; else will you perish and your sin shall be on yours own neck.'

For she is a virago of viragoes. Accordingly I left Bassorah, broken hearted, and limned this likeness of her in books and scattered them abroad in various lands, so perhaps they might fall into the hands of a comely youth like yourself and he contrive access to her and perhaps she might fall in love with him, purposing to take a promise of him that, when he should have possession of her, he would show her to me, though I look but for a moment from afar off." When Ibrahim son of al-Kasib heard these words, he bowed his head awhile in thought and Al-Sandalani said to him, "O my son, I have not seen in Baghdad a fairer than you, and meseems that, when she sees you, she will love you. Are you willing, therefore, in case you be united with her and get possession of her, to show her to me, if I look but for a moment from afar?" Ibrahim replied, "Yes;" and the painter rejoined, "This being so, tarry with me till you set out." But the youth retorted, "I cannot tarry longer; for my heart with love of her is all afire." "Have patience three days," said the Shaykh, "till I fit you out a ship, in which you may fare to Bassorah."

Accordingly he waited whilst the old man equipped him a craft and stored within it all that he needed of meat and drink and so forth. When the three days were past, he said to Ibrahim, "Make you ready for the voyage; for I have prepared you a packet boat furnished with all you require. The craft is my property and the seamen are of my servants. In the vessel is what will suffice you till your return, and I have changed the crew to serve you till you come back in safety." Thereupon Ibrahim farewelled his host and embarking, sailed down the river till he came to Bassorah, where he pulled out an hundred dinars for the sailors, but they said, "We have gotten our hire of our lord." However he replied, "Take this by way of largesse; and I will not acquaint him therewith." So they took it and blessed him. Then the youth landed and entering the town asked, "Where do the merchants lodge?" and was answered, "In a Khan called the Khan of Hamadán." So he walked to the market in which stood the Khan, and all eyes were fixed upon him and men's sight was attracted to him by reason of his exceeding beauty and loveliness. He entered the caravanserai, with one of the sailors in his company; and, asking for the porter, was directed to an aged man of reverend aspect. He saluted him and the doorkeeper returned his greeting; after which Ibrahim said to him, "O uncle, have you a nice chamber?" He replied, "Yes," and taking him and the sailor, opened to them a handsome room decorated with gold, and said, "O youth, this chamber befits you." Ibrahim pulled out two dinars and gave them to him, saying, "Take these to key money." And the porter took them and blessed him. Then the youth Ibrahim sent the sailor

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 213 back to the ship and entered the room, where the door keeper abode with him and served him, saying, "O my lord, your coming has brought us joy!" Ibrahim gave him a dinar, and said, "Buy us herewith bread and meat and sweetmeats and wine." Accordingly the doorkeeper went to the market; and, buying ten dirhams' worth of victual, brought it back to Ibrahim and gave him the other ten dirhams. But he cried to him, "Spend them on yourself;" at which the porter rejoiced with passing joy. Then he ate a scone with a little kitchen and gave the rest to the concierge, adding, "Carry this to the people of your household." The porter carried it to his family and said to them, "Methinks there is not on the face of the earth a more generous than the young man who has come to lodge with us this day, nor yet a pleasanter than he. If he abide with us, we shall grow rich." Then he returned to Ibrahim and found him weeping; so he sat down and began to rub his feet and kiss them, saying, "O my lord, Why weepest you? May Allah not make you weep!" Ibrahim said, "O uncle, I have a mind to drink with you this night;" and the porter replied, "Hearing and obeying!" So he gave him five dinars and said, "Buy us fresh fruit and wine;" and presently added other five, saying, "With these buy also for us dessert and flowers and five fat fowls and bring me a lute." The doorkeeper went out and, buying what he had ordered, said to his wife, "Strain this wine and cook us this food and look you dress it daintily, for this young man overwhelms us with his bounties." She did as he bade her, to the utmost of desire; and he took the victuals and carried them to Ibrahim son of the Sultan.—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Fifty fifth night

Then he sobbed a great sob and fell down a swoon. The porter sighed, and when he came to himself, he said to him, "O my lord, what is it gars you weep and who is she to whom you alludest in these verses? Indeed, she cannot be but as dust to your feet." But Ibrahim arose and for all reply brought out a parcel of the richest raiment that women wear and said to him, "Take this to your Harim." So he carried it to his wife and she returned with him to the young man's lodging and behold, she found him weeping, the doorkeeper to said him "truly, you break our hearts! Tell us what fair one you desire, and she shall be nothing save your handmaid." he said, "O uncle, know that I am the son of al-Kasib, Wazir of Egypt, and I am enamoured of Jamilah, daughter of Abu al-Lays the Governor." Exclaimed the porter's wife, "Allah! Allah! O my brother, leave this talk, lest any hear of us and we perish. truly there is not on earth's face a more masterful than she, nor may any name to her the word 'man,' for she is averse from men. Why, O my son, turn from her to other than her."

Now when Ibrahim heard this, he wept with sore weeping and the doorkeeper said to him, "I have nothing save my life; but that I will risk for your love and find you a means of winning your will." Then the twain went out from him, and on the morrow he betook himself to the Hammam and donned a suit of royal raiment, after which he returned to his lodging, when behold, the porter and his wife came in to him and said, "Know, O my lord, that there is a humpbacked tailor here who sews for the lady Jamilah. Go you to him and acquaint him with your case; perhaps he will show you the way of attaining yours aim." So the youth Ibrahim arose and betaking himself to the shop of the humpbacked tailor, went in to him and found with him ten Mamelukes as they were moons. He saluted them with the salam, and they returned his greeting and bade him welcome and made him sit down; and indeed they rejoiced in him and were amazed at his charms and loveliness, especially the

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 215 hunchback who was confounded at his beauty of form and favour. Presently, he said to the Gobbo, "I desire that you sew me up my pocket;" and the tailor took a needleful of silk and sewed up his pocket which he had torn purposely; whereupon Ibrahim gave him five dinars and returned to his lodging. the tailor "What thing have I done for this youth, that he should give me five gold pieces?" And he passed the night, pondering his beauty and generosity. And when morning morrowed Ibrahim repaired to the shop and saluted the tailor, who returned his salam and welcomed him and made much of him. Then he sat down and said to the hunchback, "O uncle, sew up my pocket, for I have rent it again." Replied the tailor, "On my head and eyes, O my son," and sewed it up; whereupon Ibrahim gave him ten ducats and he took them, amazed at his beauty and generosity. Then he said, "By God, O youth, for this conduct of yours needs must be a cause, this is no matter of sewing up a pocket. But tell me the truth of your case. If you be in love with one of these boys, By God, there is not among them a comelier than you for they are each and every as the dust at your feet; and behold, they are all your slaves and at your command. Or if it be other than this, tell me."

Replied Ibrahim, "O uncle, this is no place for talk, for my case is wondrous and my affair marvellous." Rejoined the tailor, "If it be so, come with me to a place apart." So saying, he rose up in haste and took the youth by the hand and carrying him into a chamber behind the shop "Now tell me your tale, O youth!" Accordingly Ibrahim related his story first and last to the tailor, who was amazed at his speech and cried, "O youth, fear Allah for yourself: indeed she of whom you speak is a virago and averse from men. Why, O my brother, do you guard your tongue, else you will destroy yourself." When Ibrahim heard the hunchback's words, he wept with sore weeping and clinging to the tailor's skirts said, "Help me, O my uncle, or I am a dead man; for I have left my kingdom and the kingdom of my father and grandfather and am become a stranger in the lands and lonely; nor can I endure without her." When the tailor saw how it was with him, he pitied him and said, "O my son, I have but my life and that I will venture for your love, for you make my heart ache. But by to morrow I will contrive you something by which your heart shall be solaced."

Ibrahim blessed him and returning to the khan, told the doorkeeper what the hunchback had said, and he answered, "Indeed, he has dealt kindly with you." Next morning, the youth donned his richest dress and taking a purse of gold, repaired to the Gobbo and saluted him. Then he sat down and said, "O uncle, keep your word with me." the hunchback "Arise directly and take you three fat fowls and three ounces of sugar candy and two small jugs which do you fill with wine; also a cup. Lay all these in a budget and tomorrow, after the morning prayers, take boat with them, saying to the boatman, 'I would have you row me down the river below Bassorah.' If he say to you, 'I cannot go farther than a parasang' do you answer, 'As you will;' but, when he shall have come so far, lure him on with money to carry you farther; and the first flower garden you will descry after this will be that of the lady Jamilah. Go up to the gate as soon as you espiest it and there you will see two high steps, carpeted with brocade, and seated thereon a Quasimodo like me. Do you complain to him of your case and crave his favour: perhaps he will have compassion on your condition and bring you to the sight of her, though but for a moment from afar. This is all I can do for you, and unless he be moved to pity for you, we be dead men, I and you. This then is my advice and the matter rests with the Almighty." said Ibrahim "I seek aid of Allah; whatever He wills becomes; and there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!"

Then he left the hunchback tailor and returned to his lodging where, taking the things his adviser had named, he laid them in a bag. On the morrow, as soon as it was day, he went down to Tigris bank, where he found a boatman asleep; so he awoke him and giving him ten sequins, bade him row him down the river below Bassorah. the man "O my lord, it must be on condition that I go no farther than a parasang; for if I pass that distance by a span, I am a lost man, and you too." And said Ibrahim "Be it as you will." Thereupon he took

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 217 him and dropped down the river with him till he drew near the flower garden, when he said to him, "O my son, I can go no farther; for, if I pass this limit, we are both dead men." at this Ibrahim pulled out other ten dinars and gave them to him, saying, "Take this spending money and better your case therewithal." The boatman was ashamed to refuse him and fared on with him crying "I commit the affair to Allah the Almighty!"—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Fifty sixth night

and fared on with him down stream. When they came to the flower garden, the youth sprang out of the boat, in his joy, a spring of a spear's cast from the land, and cast himself down, whilst the boatman turned and fled. Then Ibrahim fared forward and found all as it had been described by the Gobbo: he also saw the garden gate open, and in the porch a couch of ivory, on which sat a hump backed man of pleasant presence, clad in gold laced clothes and hending in hand a silvern mace plated with gold. So he hastened up to him and seizing his hand kissed it; whereupon asked the hunchback, "Who are you and from where come you and who brought you here, O my son?" And indeed, when the man saw Ibrahim Khasib son, he was amazed at his beauty. He answered, "O uncle, I am an ignorant lad and a stranger;" and he wept. The hunchback had pity on him and taking him up on the couch, wiped away his tears and said to him, "No harm shall come to you. If you be in debt, may Allah settle your debt: and if you be in fear, may Allah appease your fear!"

Replied Ibrahim, "O uncle, I am neither in fear nor am I in debt, but have money in plenty, thanks to Allah." Rejoined the other, "Then, O my son, what is your need that you venturest yourself and your loveliness to a place in which is destruction?" So he told him his story and disclosed to him his case, whereupon the man bowed his head earthwards awhile, then said to him, "Was he who directed you to me the humpbacked tailor?" "Yes," answered Ibrahim, and the keeper said, "This is my brother, and he is a blessed man!" Presently, adding, "But, O my son, had not affection for you sunk into my heart, and had I not taken compassion on you, truly you were lost, you and my brother and the doorkeeper of the Khan and his wife. For know that this flower garden has not its like on the face of the earth and that it is called the Garden of the Wild Heifer, nor has any entered it in all my life long, save the Sultan and myself and its mistress Jamilah; and I have dwelt here twenty years and never yet saw any else attain to this stead. Every forty days the Lady Jamilah comes here in a bark and lands in the midst of her women, under a canopy of satin, whose skirts ten damsels hold up with hooks of gold, whilst she enters, and I see nothing of her. nevertheless, I have but my life and I will risk it for the sake of you."

Herewith Ibrahim kissed his hand and the keeper said to him, "Sit by me, till I devise something for you." Then he took him by the hand and carried him into the flower garden which, when he saw, he deemed it Eden, for within it were trees intertwining and palms high towering and waters welling and birds with various voices carolling. Presently, the keeper brought him to a domed pavilion and said to him, "This is where the Lady Jamilah sits." So he examined it and found it of the rarest of pleasances, full of all kinds paintings in gold and lapis lazuli. It had four doors, whereto man mounted by five steps, and in its centre was a cistern of water, to which led down steps of gold all set with precious stones. Amiddlewards the basin was a fountain of gold, with figures, large and small, and water jetting in gerbes from their mouths; and when, by reason of the issuing forth of the water, they attuned themselves to various tones, it seemed to the hearer as though he were in Eden. Round the pavilion ran a channel of water, turning a Persian wheel whose buckets were silvern covered with brocade. To the left of the pavilion was a lattice of silver, giving upon a green park, in which were all manner wild cattle and gazelles and hares, and on the right hand was another lattice, overlooking a meadow full of birds of all sorts, warbling in various voices and

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 219 bewildering the hearers' wits. Seeing all this the youth was delighted and sat down in the doorway by the gardener, who said to him, "How seems to you my garden?" Ibrahim said,"'Tis the Paradise of the world!" At which the gardener laughed. Then he rose and was absent awhile and presently returned with a tray, full of fowls and quails and other dainties including sweet meats of sugar, which he set before Ibrahim, saying, "Eat your sufficiency." So he ate his fill, at which the keeper rejoiced and cried, "By God, this is the fashion of Kings and sons of Kings!" Then he said, "O Ibrahim, what have you in that bag?" Accordingly he opened it before him and the keeper said, "Carry it with you; 'twill serve you when the Lady Jamilah comes; for when once she is come, I shall not be able to bring you food." Then he rose and taking the youth by the hand, brought him to a place fronting the pavilion, where he made him an arbour among the trees and said to him, "Get you up here, and when she comes you will see her and she will not see you. This is the best I can do for you and on Allah be our dependence! Whenas she sings, drink you to her singing, and whenas she departs you will return in safety from where you came, God willing!"

Ibrahim thanked him and would have kissed his hand, but he forbade him. Then the youth laid the bag in the arbour and the keeper said to him, "O Ibrahim, walk about and take your pleasure in the garth and eat of its fruits, for your mistress's coming is appointed to be to morrow." So he solaced himself in the garden and ate of its fruits; after which he nighted with the keeper. And when morning morrowed and showed its sheen and shone, he prayed the dawn prayer and presently the keeper came to him with a pale face, and said to him, "Rise, O my son, and go up into the arbour: for the slave girls are come to order the place, and she comes after them;"—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Fifty seventh night

She pursued, when the keeper came to Ibrahim Khasib son in the Garden he said to him, "Rise, O my son, and go up into the arbour; for the slave girls are come to order the place and she comes after them. So beware lest you spit or sneeze or blow your nose; else we are dead men, I and you." Hereupon Ibrahim rose and went up into his nest, whilst the keeper fared forth, saying, "Allah grant you safety, O my son!" Presently, behold, up came four slave girls, whose like none ever saw, and entering the pavilion, doffed their outer dresses and washed it. Then they sprinkled it with rose water and incensed it with ambergris and aloes wood and spread it with brocade. After these came fifty other damsels, with instruments of music, and amongst them Jamilah, within a canopy of red brocade, whose skirts the handmaidens bore up with hooks of gold, till she had entered the pavilion, so that Ibrahim saw nothing of her nor of her raiment. So he said to himself, "By God, all my travail is lost! But needs must I wait to see how the case will be." Then the damsels brought meat and drink and they ate and drank and washed their hands, after which they set her a royal chair and she sat down; and all played on instruments of music and with ravishing voices incomparably sang. Presently, out ran an old woman, a duenna, and clapped hands and danced, whilst the girls pulled her about, till the curtain was lifted and forth came Jamilah laughing. Ibrahim gazed at her and saw that she was clad in costly robes and ornaments, and on her head was a crown set with pearls and gems. About her long fair neck she wore a necklace of unions and her waist was clasped with a girdle of chrysolite bugles, with tassels of rubies and pearls. The damsels kissed ground before her, and, "When I considered her" (Said Ibrahim),

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 221

"I took leave of my senses and wit and I was dazed and my thought was confounded for amazement at the sight of loveliness whose like is not on the face of the earth. So I fell into a swoon and coming to myself, weeping eyed, recited these two couplets,

'I see you and close not my eyes for fear Lest their lids prevent me beholding you: If I gazed with my every glance these eyne never could sight all the loveliness moulding you.' "

Then said the old Kahramanah to the girls, "Let ten of you arise and dance and sing." And Ibrahim when looking at them said in himself, "I wish the lady Jamilah would dance." When the handmaidens had made an end of their pavane, they gathered round the Princess and said to her, "O my lady, we long for you to dance amongst us, so the measure of our joy may be fulfilled, for never saw we a more delicious day than this." Ibrahim to said himself "Doubtless the gates of Heaven are open and Allah has granted my prayer." Then the damsels kissed her feet and said to her, "By God, we never saw you broadened of breast as to day!" Nor did they cease exciting her, till she doffed her outer dress and stood in a shift of cloth of gold, broidered with various jewels, showing breasts which stood out like pomegranates and unveiling a face as it were the moon on the night of fulness. Then she began to dance, and Ibrahim beheld motions he had never in his life seen their like, for she showed such wondrous skill and marvellous invention, that she made men forget the dancing of bubbles in wine cups and called to mind the inclining of the turbands from head tops: even as says of her the poet,

"A dancer whose form is like branch of Ban! Flies my soul well near as his steps I greet: While he dances no foot stands still and meseems That the fire of my heart is beneath his feet."

And as said another

"A dancer whose figure is like a willow branch: my soul almost quitts me at the sight of her movements. No foot can remain stationary at her dancing, she is as though the fire of my heart were beneath her feet."

said Ibrahim "As I gazed upon her, she chanced to look up and caught sight of me whereupon her face changed and she said to her women, 'Sing you till I come back to you.' Then, taking up a knife half a cubit long, she made towards me, crying, 'There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!' Now when I saw this, I well near lost my wits; but, whenas she drew near me and face met face, the knife dropped from her hand, and she exclaimed, 'Glory to Him who changes men's hearts!' Then she said to me, 'O youth, be of good cheer, for you are safe from what you do fear!' Whereupon I fell to weeping, and she to wiping away my tears with her hand and saying, 'O youth, tell me who you are, and what brought you here.' I kissed the ground before her and seized her skirt; and she said, 'No harm shall come to you; for, By God, no male has ever filled my eyes but yourself! Tell me, then, who you are.' So I recited to her my story from beginning to end, at which she marvelled and said to me, 'O my lord, I conjure you By God, tell me if you be Ibrahim bin al-Khasib?' I replied, 'Yes!' and she threw herself upon me, saying, 'O my lord, 'twas you made me averse from men; for, when I heard that there was in the land of Egypt a youth than whom there was none more beautiful on earth's face, I fell in love with you by report, and my heart became enamoured of you, for that which reached me of your passing comeliness, so that I was, in respect of you, even as says the poet,

'My ear forewent my eye in loving him; For ear shall love before the eye at times.'

'So praised be Allah who has shown your face! But, by the Almighty, had it been other than you, I had crucified the keeper of the garden and the porter of the Khan and the tailor and him who had recourse to them!' And presently she added, 'But how shall I contrive for something you may eat, without

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 223 the know ledge of my women?' said I 'With me is something we may Eat and drink;' and I opened the bag before her. She took a fowl and began to morsel me and I to morsel her; which when I saw, it seemed to me that this was a dream. Then I brought out wine and we drank, what while the damsels sang on; nor did they leave to do thus from morn to noon, when she rose and said, 'Go now and get you a boat and await me in such a place, till I come to you: for I have no patience left to brook severance.' I replied, 'O my lady, I have with me a ship of my own, whose crew are in my hire, and they await me.' Rejoined she, 'This is as we would have it,' and returning to her women,"—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Fifty eighth night

They replied, "Why should we return now, seeing that we use to abide here three days?" she said, "I feel an exceeding oppression in myself, as though I were sick, and I fear lest this increase upon me." So they answered, "We hear and obey," and donning their walking dresses went down to the river bank and embarked in a boat; whereupon behold, the keeper of the garden came up to Ibrahim and said to him, knowing not what had happened, "O Ibrahim, you have not had the luck to enjoy the sight of her, and I fear lest she have seen you, for 'tis her wont to tarry here three days." Replied Ibrahim, "She saw me not nor I her; for she came not forth of the pavilion." Rejoined the keeper, "True, O my son, for, had she seen you, we were both dead men: but abide with me till she come again next week, and you will see her and take your fill of looking at her." Replied the Prince, "O my lord, I have with me money and fear for it: I also left men behind me and I dread lest they take advantage of my absence."

He retorted, "O my son 'tis grievous to me to part with you;" and he embraced and farewelled him. Then Ibrahim returned to the Khan where he lodged, and foregathering with the doorkeeper, took of him all his property and the porter said, "Good news, God willing!" But Ibrahim said, "I have found no way to my want, and now I am minded to return to my people." Whereupon the porter wept; then taking up his baggage, he carried them to the ship and abade him adieu. Ibrahim repaired to the place which Jamilah had appointed him and awaited her there till it grew dark, when, behold, she came up, disguised as a bully boy with rounded beard and waist bound with a girdle. In one hand she held a bow and arrows and in the other a bared blade, and she asked him, "Are you Ibrahim, son of al-Khasib, lord of Egypt?" "He I am," answered the Prince; and she said, "What never do well are you, who comes to debauch the daughters of Kings? Come: speak with the Sultan." "Therewith" (Said Ibrahim) "I fell down in a swoon and the sailors died in their skins for fear; but, when she saw what had happened me, she pulled off her beard and throwing down her sword, ungirdled her waist whereupon I knew her for, the Lady Jamilah and said to her, 'By God, you have rent my heart in sunder!' adding to the boatmen, 'Hasten the vessel's speed.'

So they shook out the sail and putting off, fared on with all diligence; nor was it many days before we made Baghdad, where suddenly we saw a ship lying by the river bank. When her sailors saw us, they cried out to our crew, saying, 'Ho, such an one and such an one, we give you joy of your safety!' Then they drave their ship against our craft and I looked and in the other boat beheld Abu al-Kasim al-Sandalani who when he saw us exclaimed, 'This is what I sought: go you in God's keeping; as for me, I have a need to be satisfied!' Then he turned to me and said, 'Praised be Allah for safety! Have you accomplished

Ibrahim and Jamilah. 225 yours errand?' I replied, 'Yes!' Now Abu al-Kasim had a flambeau before him; so he brought it near our boat, and when Jamilah saw him, she was troubled and her colour changed: but, when he saw her, he said, 'Fare you in Allah's safety. I am bound to Bassorah, on business for the Sultan; but the gift is for him who is present.' Then he brought out a box of sweetmeats, in which was Bhang and threw it into our boat: whereupon I to said Jamilah 'O coolth of my eyes, eat of this.' But she wept and said, 'O Ibrahim, know you who that is?' and i said, 'Yes, 'tis such an one.' she replied, 'He is my first cousin, son of my father's brother who sought me aforetime in marriage of my sire; but I would not accept of him. And now he is gone to Bassorah and most like he will tell my father of us.' I rejoined, 'O my lady he will not reach Bassorah, till we are at Mosul.' But we knew not what lurked for us in the Secret Purpose. Then" (continued Ibrahim) "I ate of the sweetmeat, but hardly had it reached my stomach when I smote the ground with my head; and lay there till near dawn, when I sneezed and the Bhang issued from my nostrils. With this, I opened my eyes and found myself naked and cast out among ruins; so I buffeted my face and said in myself, 'Doubtless this is a trick Al-Sandalani has played me.'

But I knew not where I should go, for I had upon me nothing save my bag trousers. However, I rose and walked on a little, till I suddenly espied the Chief of Police coming towards me, with a posse of men with swords and targes; at which I took fright and seeing a ruined Hammam hid myself there. Presently, my foot stumbled upon something; so I put my hand to it, and it became befouled with blood. I wiped my hand upon my bag trousers, unknowing what had befouled it, and put it out a second time, when it fell upon a corpse whose head came up in my hand. I threw it down, saying,

'There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!'; and I took refuge in one of the corner cabinets of the Hammam. Presently, the Wali stopped at the bath door and said, 'Enter this place and search.' So ten of them entered with cressets, and I of my fear retired behind a wall and looking upon the corpse, saw it to be that of a young lady with a face like the full moon; and her head lay on one side and her body clad in costly raiment on the other. When I saw this, my heart fluttered with affright. Then the Chief of Police entered and said, 'Search the corners of the bath.' So they entered the place in which I was, and one of them seeing me, came up hending in hand a knife half a cubit long. When he drew near me, he cried, 'Glory be to God, the Creator of this fair face! O youth, from where are you?' Then he took me by the hand and said, 'O youth, why slewest you this woman?' I said, 'By God, I slew her not, nor know I who slew her, and I entered not this place but in fear of you!' And I told him my case, adding, 'in God's name, do me no wrong, for I am in concern for myself!' Then he took me and carried me to the Wali who, seeing the marks of blood on my hand said, 'This needs no proof: strike off his head!'—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Fifty ninth night

Now there was for this a wondrous reason and a marvellous cause; and 'twas thus. Al-Khasib, Wazir of Egypt, had sent his Head Chamberlain to the Caliph Harun al-Rashid with presents and a letter, saying, "My son has been missing this year past, and I hear that he is in Baghdad, Why I crave of the bounty of the Viceregent of Allah that he make search for tidings of him and do his endeavour to find him and send him back to me with the Chamberlain." When the Caliph read the missive, he commanded the Chief of Police to search out the truth of the matter, and he did not stop to enquire after Ibrahim, till it was told him that he was at Bassorah, whereupon he informed the Caliph, who wrote a letter to the viceroy and giving it to the Chamberlain of Egypt, bade him repair to Bassorah and take with him a company of the Wazir's followers. So, of his eagerness to find the son of his lord, the Chamberlain set out directly and happened by the way upon Ibrahim, as he stood on the rug of blood. When the Wali saw the Chamberlain he recognised him and alighted to him and as he asked, "What young man is that and what is his case?" The Chief told him how the matter was and the Chamberlain said (and indeed he knew him not for the son of the Sultan) "truly this young man has not the face of one who murthers." And he bade loose his bonds; so they loosed him and the Chamberlain said, "Bring him to me!" And they brought him, but the officer knew him not his beauty being all gone for the horrors he had endured. Then the Chamberlain said to him, "O youth, tell me your case and how comes this slain woman with you." Ibrahim looked at him and knowing him, said to him, "Woe to you! Do you not know me?

Am I not Ibrahim, son of your lord? perhaps you are come in quest of me.' With this the Chamberlain considered him straitly and knowing him right well, threw himself at his feet; which when the Wali saw, his colour changed, and the Chamberlain cried to him, "Fie upon you, O tyrant! Was it yours intent to slay the son of my master al-Khasib, Wazir of Egypt?" The Chief of Police kissed his skirt, saying "O my lord, how should I know him? We found him in this plight and saw the girl lying slain by his side." Rejoined the Chamberlain, "Out on you! You are not fit for the office. This is a lad of fifteen and he has not slain a sparrow, so how should he be a murtherer? Why did you not have patience with him and question him of his case?" Then the Chamberlain and the Wali cried to the men, "Make search for the young lady's murtherer." So they re entered the bath and finding him, brought him to the Chief of Police, who carried him to the Caliph and acquainted him with that which had occurred al-Rashid bade slay the slayer and sending for Ibrahim, smiled in his face and said to him, "Tell me your tale and that which has happened you."

So he recounted to him his story from beginning to end, and it was grievous to the Caliph, who called Masrur his Sworder, and said to him, "Go At once and fall upon the house of Abu al-Kasim al-Sandalani and bring me him and the young lady." The eunuch went forth at once and breaking into the house, found Jamilah bound with her own hair and almost death; so he loosed her and taking the painter, carried them both to the Caliph, who marvelled at Jamilah's beauty. Then he turned to al-Sandalani and said, "Take him and cut off his hands, wherewith he beat this young lady; then crucify him and deliver his monies and possessions to Ibrahim." They did his bidding, and as they were thus, behold, in came Abu al-Lays governor of Bassorah, the Lady Jamilah's father, seeking aid of the Caliph against Ibrahim bin al-Khasib Wazir of Egypt and complaining to him that the youth had taken his daughter. Said al-Rashid, "He has been the means of delivering her from torture and slaughter." Then he sent for Ibrahim, and when he came, he said

Abu Al-Hasan of Khorasan. 229 to Abu al-Lays, "Will you not accept of this young man, son of the Soldan of Egypt, as husband to your daughter?" Replied Abu al-Lays, "I hear and I obey Allah and you, O Commander of the Faithful;" whereupon the Caliph summoned the Kazi and the witnesses and married the young lady to Ibrahim. Furthermore, he gave him all al-Sandalani's wealth and equipped him for his return to his own country, where he abode with Jamilah in the utmost of bliss and the most perfect of happiness, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies; and glory be to the Living who dies not! They also relate,a tale anent