The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 03 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 03 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the man sat down
by the fountain basin and ceased not pouring water on his head till he
was tired. Then he went out to the room in which was the cistern of
cold water; and seeing no one there, he found a quiet corner and taking
out a piece of Hashísh,[FN#107] swallowed it. Presently the fumes
mounted to his brain and he rolled over on to the marble floor. Then
the Hashish made him fancy that a great lord was shampooing him and
that two slaves stood at his head, one bearing a bowl and the other
washing gear and all the requisites of the Hammam. When he saw this, he
said in himself, "Meseemeth these here be mistaken in me; or else they
are of the company of us Hashish-eaters."[FN#108] Then he stretched
out his legs and he imagined that the bathman said to him, "O my
master, the time of thy going up to the Palace draweth near and it is
to-day thy turn of service." At this he laughed and said to himself,
"As Allah willeth,[FN#109] O Hashish!" Then he sat and said nothing,
whilst the bathman arose and took him by the hand and girt his middle
with a waist-cloth of black silk, after which the two slaves followed
him with the bowls and gear, and they ceased not escorting him till
they brought him into a cabinet, wherein they set incense and perfumes
a-burning. He found the place full of various kinds of fruits and
sweet-scented flowers, and they sliced him a watermelon and seated him
on a stool of ebony, whilst the bathman stood to wash him and the
slaves poured water on him; after which they rubbed him down well and
said, "O our lord, Sir Wazir, health to thee forever!" Then they went
out and shut the door on him; and in the vanity of phantasy he arose
and removed the waist-cloth from his middle, and laughed till he well
nigh fainted. He gave not over laughing for some time and at last
quoth he to himself, "What aileth them to address me as if I were a
Minister and style me Master, and Sir? Haply they are now blundering;
but after an hour they will know me and say, This fellow is a beggar;
and take their fill of cuffing me on the neck." Presently, feeling hot
he opened the door, whereupon it seemed to him that a little white
slave and an eunuch came in to him carrying a parcel. Then the slave
opened it and brought out three kerchiefs of silk, one of which he
threw over his head, a second over his shoulders and a third he tied
round his waist. Moreover, the eunuch gave him a pair of bath-
clogs,[FN#110] and he put them on; after which in came white slaves and
eunuchs and sup ported him (and he laughing the while) to the outer
hall, which he found hung and spread with magnificent furniture, such
as be seemeth none but kings; and the pages hastened up to him and
seated him on the divan. Then they fell to kneading him till sleep
overcame him; and he dreamt that he had a girl in his arms. So he
kissed her and set her between his thighs; then, sitting to her as a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account