looking out at the latticed window listening and gazing. Hereupon the Wazir gave an order that the master of the mare take her colt and the master of the cow carry off her calf; after which he bade them go about their business.?And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was The Four Hundred and Twelfth Night, Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Sultan, whose Minister was the Wazir-wise-in-Allah-Almighty, on a certain day summoned his Chief Councillor and when he came said to him, "Verily my breast is straitened and I am beset by unease, so I desire to hear something which may broaden my bosom;" and said the other, "O King of the age, by Allah, I have a friend who is named Mahmúd the 'Ajami and that man is a choice spirit and he hath all kind of rare tales and strange anecdotes and wondrous histories and marvellous adventures." Said the Sultan, "There is no help but that thou summon him to us hither and let us hear from him somewhat." So the Wazir sent after the Persian and when the man stood in the presence said to him, "Verily the Sultan hath summoned thee." He replied, "Hearing and obeying," when he was taken and set before the Sovran and as he entered he saluted him with the salams of the Caliphs and blessed him and prayed for him.[FN#282] The King returned his greeting and after seating him said to him, "O Mahamud, at this moment my breast is indeed straitened and I have heard of thee that thou hast a store of rare stories which I would that thou cause me hear[FN#283] and let it be somewhat sweet of speech which shall banish my cark and my care and the straitness of my breast." Hereto the other replied, "Hearing and obeying;" and began to relate the Tale of Mahmud the Persian and the Kurd Sharper.[FN#284] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *