There was once a man of Khorasan and he had a son, whose moral weal he ardently wished; but the young man sought to be alone and far from the eye of his father, so he might give himself up to pleasuring and pleasance. Accordingly he sought of his sire leave to make the pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah and to visit the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah save and assain!). Now between them and Meccah was a journey of five hundred parasangs; but his father could not contrary him, for that the Holy Law had made pilgrimage incumbent on him and because of that which he hoped for him of improvement. So he joined unto him a tutor, in whom he trusted, and gave him much money and took leave of him. The son set out with his governor on the holy pilgrimage, and abode on the like wise, spending freely and using not thrift. Also there was in his neighbourhood a poor man, who had a slave girl of passing beauty and grace, and the youth conceived a desire for her and suffered sore cark and care for the love of her and her loveliness, so that he was like to perish for passion; and she also loved him with a love yet greater than his love for her. Accordingly, the damsel summoned an old woman who used to visit her and acquainted her with her case, saying, "If I foregather not with him, I shall die."

The crone promised her that she would do her best to bring her to her, desire; so she veiled herself and repairing to the young man, saluted him with the salam and acquainted him with the girl's case, saying, "Her master is a greedy people; so do you invite him and lure him with lucre, and he will sell you the handmaiden." Accordingly, he made a banquet, and standing in the man's way, invited him and brought him to his house, where they sat down and ate and drank and abode in talk. Presently, the young man said to the other, "I hear you have with you a slave girl, whom you desire to sell;" but he said, "By God, O my lord, I have no mind to sell her!" The youth said, "I have heard that she cost you a thousand dinars, and I will give you six hundred over and above that sum;" and the other, said, "I sell her to you at that price." So they fetched notaries who wrote out the contract of sale, and the young man weighed to the girl's master half the purchase money, saying, "Let her be with you till I complete to you the rest of the price and take my hand maid."

The owner consented to this and took of him a written bond for the rest of the money, and the girl abode with her master, on deposit. As for the youth, he gave his governor a thousand dirhams and sent him to his sire, to fetch money from him, so he might pay the rest of the hand maid's price, saying to him, "Be not long away." But the tutor said in his mind, "How shall I fare to his father and say to him, 'Your son has wasted your money and made love with it?' With what eye shall I look on him and, indeed, I am he in whom he confided and to whom he has entrusted his son? truly, this were ill counsel. Nay, I will fare on with this pilgrimage caravan in despite of my fool of a youth; and when he is weary of waiting, he will demand back his money and return to his father, and I shall be quit of travail and trouble." So he went on with the pilgrimage caravan and took up his abode there. Meanwhile, the youth tarried expecting his tutor's return, but he returned not; Why concern and chagrin grew upon him because of his mistress, and his yearning for her redoubled and he was like to kill himself. She became aware of this and sent him a messenger, bidding him visit her. Accordingly he went to her, and she questioned him of the case; when he told her what was to do of the matter of his tutor, and she said to him, "With me is longing the like of that which is with you, and I doubt me your messenger has perished or your father

The Tale Of The Man Of Khorasan. 131 has slain him; but I will give you all my jewellery and my dresses, and do you sell them and weigh out the rest of my price, and we will go, I and you, to your sire." So she handed to him all she had and he sold it and paid the rest of her price; after which there remained to him for spending money an hundred dirhams. These he spent and lay that night with the damsel in all delight of life, and his sprite was like to fly for joy: but when he arose in the morning, he sat weeping and the damsel said to him, "What causes you to weep?" he said, "I know not an my father be dead, and he has none other heir save myself; but how shall I get to him, seeing I own not a dirham?" She said, "I have a bangle; sell it and buy seedpearls with the price: then round them and fashion them into great unions and by that you will gain much money, with the which we may find our way to your country." So he took the bangle and repairing to a goldsmith, said to him, "Break up this bracelet and sell it;" but he said, "The king seeks a perfect bracelet: I will go to him and bring you its price."

Presently, he bore the bangle to the Sultan and it pleased him greatly by reason of its goodly workmanship. Then he called an old woman, who was in his palace, and said to her, "Needs must I have the mistress of this bracelet though but for a single night, or I shall die;" and the old woman replied, "I will bring her to you." Thereupon she donned a devotee's dress and betaking herself to the goldsmith, said to him, "To whom belongs the bangle which is now with the king?" and he said, "It belongs to a stranger, who has bought him a slave girl from this city and lodgs with her in such a place." Upon this the old woman repaired to the young man's house and knocked at the door. The damsel opened to her and seeing her clad in devotee's garb, saluted her with the salam and he asked saying, "Perhaps you have some need of us?" Answered the old woman, "Yes, I desire a private place, where I can perform the Wuzu ablution;" and the girl, said, "Enter." So she entered and did her requirement and made the ablution and prayed: then she brought out a rosary and began to tell her beads thereon, and the damsel said to her, "from where come you, O pilgrimess?" she said, "From visiting the Idol of the Absent in such a church. There stands up no woman before him, who has a distant friend and discloses to him her desire, but he acquaints her with her case and gives her news of her absent one."

Said the damsel, "O pilgrimess, we have an absent one, and my lord's heart cleavs to him and I desire to go question the Idol of him." the crone, said, "Do you wait till tomorrow and ask leave of your spouse, and I will come to you and fare with you in weal and welfare." Then she went away, and when the girl's master came, she sought his permission to go with the old trot, and he gave her leave. So the beldame came and took her and carried her to the king's door, she, unknowing where she went. The damsel entered with her and beheld a goodly house and decorated apartments which were no idol's chamber. Then came the king and seeing her beauty and loveliness, went up to her to kiss her; whereupon she fell down in a fainting fit and struck out with her hands and feet. When he saw this, he held aloof from her in ruth and left her; but the matter was grievous to her and she refused meat and drink, and as often as the king drew near to her, she fled from him in fear, so he swore By God that he would not approach her save with her consent and fell to presenting her with ornaments and raiment; but her aversion to him only increased. Meanwhile, the youth her master abode expecting her; but she returned not and his heart already tasted the bitter draught of separation; so he went forth at hap hazard, distracted and knowing not what he should do, and began strewing dust upon his head and crying out, "The old woman has taken her and gone away!" The little boys followed him with stones and pelted him, crying, "A madman! A madman!" Presently, the king's Chamberlain, who was a personage of years and worth, met him, and when he saw this youth,

The Tale Of The Man Of Khorasan. 133 he forbade the boys and drave them away from him, after which he accosted him and asked him of his affair. So he told him his tale and the Chamberlain said to him, "Fear not! I will deliver your slave girl for you; so calm your concern." And he went on to speak him fair and comfort him, till he had firm reliance on his word. Then he carried him to his home and stripping him of his clothes, clad him in rags; after which he called an old woman, who was his housekeeper, and said to her, "Take this youth and bind on his neck that iron chain and go round about with him in all the great thoroughfares of the city, and when you have done this, go up with him to the palace of the king." And he said to the youth, "In whatever stead you see the damsel, speak not a syllable, but acquaint me with her place and you will owe her deliverance to none save to me." The youth thanked him and went with the old woman in such fashion as the Chamberlain bade him. She fared on with him till they entered the city, and walked all about it; after which she went up to the palace of the king and fell to saying, "O fortune's favourites, look on a youth whom the devils take twice in the day and pray to be preserved from such affliction!"

And she did not stop to go round with him till she came to the eastern wing of the palace, whereupon the slave girls hurried out to look upon him and when they saw him they were amazed at his beauty and loveliness and wept for him. Then they informed the damsel, who came forth and considered him and knew him not; but he knew her; so he drooped his head and shed tears. She was moved to pity for him and gave him somewhat and went back to her place, whilst the youth returned with the housekeeper to the Chamberlain and told him that she was in the king's mansion, at which he was chagrined and said, "By God, I will assuredly devise a device for her and deliver her!" Whereupon the youth kissed his hands and feet. Then he turned to the old woman and bade her change her habit and her semblance. Now this ancient dame was sweet of speech and winsome of wit; so he gave her costly and delicious ottars and said to her, "Get you to the king's slave girls and sell them these essences and win your way to the damsel and ask her if she desire her master or not." So the old woman went out and making her way to the palace, went in to the hand maid and drew near her and recited these couplets,

"Allah preserve our Union days and their delights. Ah me! How sweet was life! how joys were ever new! May he not be who cursed us twain with parting day; How many a bone he brake, how many a life he slew! He shed my faultless tear floods and my sinless blood; And beggaring me of love himself no richer grew."

When the damsel heard the old woman's verses, she wept till her clothes were drenched and drew near the speaker, who he asked, "Know you such an one?" And she wept and answered, "He is my lord. from where know you him?" Rejoined the old woman, "O my lady, saw you not the madman who came here yesterday with the old woman? He was your lord," presently adding, "But this is no time for talk. When 'tis night, get you to the top of the palace and wait on the terrace till your lord come to you and compass your deliverance." Then she gave her what she would of perfumes and returning to the Chamberlain, acquainted him with whatever had passed, and he told the youth. Now as soon as it was evening, the Chamberlain bade bring two hackneys and great store of water and provisions and a riding camel and a fellow to show them the way. These he ambushed without the town whilst he and the young man, taking with them a long rope, made fast to a staple, went and stood below the palace. Whenas they came there, they looked and behold, the damsel was standing on the terrace roof, so they threw her the rope and the staple, which she made fast, and tucking up her sleeves above her wrists, slid down and landed with them. They carried her without the town, where they mounted, she and her lord, and fared on, with the guide in front, directing them on the way, and they did not stop faring night and day till they entered his father's house. The young man greeted his sire, who was gladdened in him, and to whom he related all that had befallen him, whereupon he rejoiced in his safety. As for the tutor, he wasted whatever was with him and returned to the city, where he saw the youth and

The Tale Of The Man Of Khorasan. 135 excused himself. Then he questioned him of what had happened him and he told him, at which he admired and returned to companionship with him; but the youth ceased to have regard for him and gave him nor solde nor ration as was his wont, neither discovered to him anything of his secrets. When the tutor saw that there was no profit from him he returned to the king, the ravisher of the slave girl, and recounted to him what the Chamberlain had done and counselled him to slay that official and egged him on to recover the damsel, promising to give his friend a poison draught and return. Accordingly the king sent for the Chamberlain and chid him for the deed he had done; at which the king's servants incontinently fell upon the Chamberlain and put him to death. Meanwhile the tutor returned to the youth, who asked him of his absence, and he told him that he had been in the city of the, king who had taken the slave girl. When the youth heard this, he misdoubted of his governor and never again trusted him in anything but was always on his guard against him.

Then the tutor without delay caused prepare great store of sweetmeats and put in them deadly poison and presented them to the youth, who, when he saw those sweetmeats, said to himself, "This is an extraordinary thing of the tutor! Needs must there be in this sweetmeat some mischief, and I will make proof of his confectionery upon himself." Accordingly he got ready food and set amongst it a portion of the sweetmeat, and inviting the governor to his house placed the provisions before him. He ate, and amongst the rest which they brought him, the poisoned sweetmeat; so while in the act of eating he died; by which the youth knew that this was a plot against himself and said, "whoever seeks his fortune by his own force attains a failure." "Nor," continued the Wazir, "is this,stranger than the story of the Druggist and his Wife and the Singer." When King Shah Bakht heard the tale of Al-Rahwan he gave him leave to withdraw to his own house and he tarried there the rest of the night and the next day till eventide evened.

The Second Night of the Month

When the even evened, the king sat private in his sitting chamber and his mind was occupied with the story of the Singer and the Druggist.

So he called the Wazir and bade him tell the tale. he answered, "I will well. They recount, O my lord, the following