He commenced his solitary feast,
and after another bumper of wine, as if tired of his own company, he
gruffly demanded, "Where do you fellows come from, and whither are you
going?"
"Sir," replied Giaffar, who had been whispering with the caliph, "we are
merchants of Moussul, who have been to an entertainment at the country
seat of a khan of Bagdad. We feasted well, and left our friend just as
the day closed in. Whereupon we lost our way, and found ourselves in
this street; hearing the musical accents of your voice, we exclaimed,
'Are not those notes delightful?--one who has so sweet a voice must be
equally sweet in disposition. Let us entreat the hospitality of our
brother for the remainder of the night, and in the morning we will
depart in peace.'"
"I do not believe a word that you have said, you ill-looking thief. You
are spies or thieves, who would profit by getting into people's houses
at unseasonable hours. You, barrel-stomach, you with whiskers like a
bear," continued he to the vizier, "hang me if ever I saw such a
rascally face as yours; and you, you black-faced nigger, keep the whites
of your eyes off my supper-table, or by Allah I'll send you all to
Jehanum. I see you are longing to put your fingers on the kid: but if
you do, I've a bone-softener, which, by the blessed Prophet, shall break
every bone in your three skins." So saying the man, taking a large
cudgel from the corner of the room, laid it by the dish of kid, into
which he then plunged his fingers, and commenced eating heartily.
Pages:
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384