food, containing all manner of birds, whatever hoppeth and flieth and treadeth in nest, such as quail and sand-grouse. Then he signed to me to eat with him; so I rose and kissed ground before him, then sat me down and ate with him. And when the table was removed I washed my hands in seven waters and took the reed-case and reed; and wrote instead of speaking these couplets:— Wail for the little partridges on porringer and plate; ✿ Cry for the ruin of the fries and stews well marinate: Keen as I keen for loved, lost daughters of the Katá-grouse,[239] ✿ And omelette round the fair enbrownèd fowls agglomerate: O fire in heart of me for fish, those _deux poissons_ I saw, ✿ Bedded on new made scones[240] and cakes in piles to laniate. For thee, O vermicelli! aches my very maw! I hold ✿ Without thee every taste and joy are clean annihilate. Those eggs have rolled their yellow eyes in torturing pains of fire ✿ Ere served with hash and fritters hot, that delicatest cate, Praisèd be Allah for His baked and roast and ah! how good ✿ This pulse, these pot-herbs steeped in oil with eysill combinate! When hunger sated was, I elbow-propt fell back upon ✿ Meat-pudding[241] wherein gleamed the bangles that my wits amate. Then woke I sleeping appetite to eat as though in sport ✿ Sweets from brocaded trays and kickshaws most elaborate. Be patient, soul of me! Time is a haughty, jealous wight; ✿ To-day he seems dark-lowering and to-morrow fair to sight.[242] Then I rose and seated myself at a respectful distance while the King read what I had written, and marvelled, exclaiming, "O the miracle, that an ape should be gifted with this graceful style and this power of penmanship! By Allah, 'tis a wonder of wonders!" Presently they set before the King choice wines in flagons of glass and he drank: then he passed on the cup to me; and I kissed the ground and drank and wrote on it:— With fire they boilèd me to loose my tongue,[243] ✿ And pain and patience gave for fellowship: Hence comes it hands of men upbear me high ✿ And honey-dew from lips of maid I sip! And these also:— Morn saith to Night, "withdraw and let me shine;" ✿ So drain we draughts that dull all pain and pine:[244] I doubt, so fine the glass, the wine so clear, ✿ If 'tis the wine in glass or glass in wine. The King read my verse and said with a sigh, "Were these gifts[245] in a man, he would excel all the folk of his time and age!" Then he called for the chess-board, and said, "Say, wilt thou play with me?"; and I signed with my head, "Yes." Then I came forward and ordered the pieces and played with him two games, both of which I won. He was speechless with surprise; so I took the pen-case and, drawing forth a reed, wrote on the board these two couplets:—