The Sultan was delighted with the 'Ajami's relation and largessed him two thousand pieces of gold; after which he returned to his palace and took seat upon his Divan when suddenly a poor man appeared before him carrying a load of fruit and greens and greeted him and prayed for him and expressed a blessing which the Sultan returned and bade him fair welcome. After which he asked, "What have you with you, O Shaykh?" and the other answered, ", I have an offering to you of fresh greens and first fruits;" and the King rejoined, "It is accepted." Thereupon the man placed them between his royal hands and stood up, and the King having removed the cover found under it a portion of ordinary cucumbers and sundry

The Kazi and the Bhang Eater. 189 curling cucumbers and bundles of rose mallows which had been placed before him. So he took of it some little matter and ate it and was much pleased and bade the Eunuchry bear the rest into the Harem. They carried out his commands and the women also were delighted and having eaten somewhat they distributed the remainder to the slave girls. Then they said, "By God, this man, the fruit owner, deserves Bakhshísh;" so they sent to him by the Eunuch one hundred gold pieces whereto the Sultan added twain, so the whole of his gain was three hundred dinars. But the Sultan was much pleased with the man and a part of the care which he felt was lightened to him, whereupon he asked, "O Shaykh, know you anything of boon companionship with the Kings?" to which the other answered, "Yes;" for he was trim of tongue and ready of reply and sweet of speech. Presently, the Sultan continued, "O Shaykh, for this present go back to your village and give to your wife and family that which Allah has made your lot." Accordingly the man went forth and did as the King bade him; after which he returned in a short time and went into the presence about set of sun when he found his liege lord at supper. The King bade him sit to the trays which he did and he ate after the measure of his sufficiency, and again when the Sultan looked upon him he was pleased with him. And when the hour of night prayers came all prayed together; then the King invited him to sit down as a cup companion and commanded him to relate one of his tales. Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet is your story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" she said, "And where is this compared with that I should relate to you on the coming night if the Sovran permits me to survive?"

Now when it was the next night and that was

The Four Hundred and Thirteenth Night

Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that the man took seat as a boon companion of the King, and began to relate