[FN#162] In text "Kunná nu'tíhu li-ahad" = we should have given him to someone; which makes very poor sense. [The whole passage runs: "Házá allazí kasam alláh bi-hi fa-lau kána rajul jayyid ghayr luss kunná nu'tí-hu li-ahad," which I would translate: This is he concerning whom Allah decreed (that he should be my portion, swearing:) "and if he were a good man and no thief we would have bestowed him on someone." In "kasama" the three ideas of decreeing, giving as a share, and binding one's self by oath are blended together. If it should appear out of place to introduce Divinity itself as speaking in this context, we must not forget that the person spoken of is no less illustrious individual than Harun al-Rashíd, and that a decidedly satirical and humorous vein runs through the whole tale. Moreover, I doubt that "li-ahad" could be used as equivalent for "li-ghayrí," "to some other than myself," while it frequently occurs in the emphatic sense of "one who is somebody, a person of consequence." The damsel and her mother, on the other hand, allude repeatedly to the state of utter helplessness in which they find themselves in default of their natural protector, and which has reduced them from an exalted station to the condition of nobodies. I speak, of course, here as elsewhere, "under correction."--ST.] [FN#163] In text "Hmsh." The Dicts. give Himmas and Himmis, forms never heard, and Forsk. (Flora Ægypt.-Arab. p. lxxi.) "Homos," also unknown. The vulg. pron. is, "Hummus" or as Lane (M.E. chapt. v.) has it "Hommus" (chick-peas). The word applies to the pea, while "Malán" is the plant in pod. It is the cicer arietinum concerning which a classical tale is told. "Cicero (pron. Kikero) was a poor scholar in the University of Athens, wherewith his enemies in Rome used to reproach him, and as he passed through the streets would call out 'O Cicer, Cicer, O,' a word still used in Cambridge, and answers to a Servitor in Oxford." Quaint this approximation between "Cicer" the vetch and "Sizar" which comes from "size" = rations, the Oxford "battel." [FN#164] Arab. "Yulakkimu," from "Lukmah" = a mouthful: see vols. i. 266; vii. 367. [FN#165] Arab. "Jarazat Kuzbán" (plur. or "Kazíb," see vol. ii. 66) = long and slender sticks. [FN#166] i.e. a witch; see vol. viii. 131. [FN#167] So in the phrase "Otbah hath the colic," first said concerning Otbah b. Rabí'a by Abú Jahl when the former advised not marching upon Badr to attack Mohammed. Tabari, vol. ii. 491. [FN#168] Compare the French "Brr!" [FN#169] i.e. to whom thou owest a debt of apology or excuse, "Gharím" = debtor or creditor. [FN#170] Arab. "Juráb al-'uddah," i.e. the manacles, fetters, etc. [FN#171] The following three sentences are taken from the margin of (MS.) p. 257, and evidently belong to this place. [FN#172] In text "Bghb" evidently for "Baght" or preferably "Baghtatan."