ince and a
noble-minded lord; he had in Baghdad six hundred Wazirs and of the
affairs of the folk naught was hidden from him. He went forth one day,
he and Ibn Hamdún,[348] to divert himself with observing his lieges and
hearing the latest news of the people; and, being overtaken with the
heats of noonday, they turned aside from the main thoroughfare into a
little by-street, at the upper end whereof they saw a handsome and
high-builded mansion, discoursing of its owner with the tongue of
praise. They sat down at the gate to take rest, and presently out came
two eunuchs as they were moons on their fourteenth night. Quoth one of
them to his fellow, “Would Heaven some guest would seek admission this
day! My master will not eat but with guests and we are come to this hour
and I have not yet seen a soul.” The Caliph marvelled at their speech
and said, “This is a proof of the house-master’s liberality: there is no
help but that we go in to him and note his generosity, and this shall be
a means of favour betiding him from us.” So he said to the eunuch, “Ask
leave of thy lord for the admission of a company[349] of strangers.” For
in those days it was the Caliph’s wont, whenas he was minded to observe
his subjects, to disguise himself in merchant’s garb. The eunuch went in
and told his master, who rejoiced and rising, came out to them in
person. He was fair of favour and fine of form and he appeared clad in a
tunic of Níshápúr[350] silk and a gold laced mantle; and he dripped with
scented waters and wore on his hand a signet ring of rubies. When he saw
them, he said to them, “Well come and welcome to the lords who favour us
with the utmost of favour by their coming!” So they entered the house
and found it such as would make a man forget family and fatherland for
it was like a piece of Paradise.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased to say her permitted say.


          Now when it was the Nine Hundred and Sixtieth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, 