This etext was scanned by J.C. Byers and proofread by Doris Ringbloom THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights Entertainments Translated and Annotated by Richard F. Burton VOLUME NINE Privately Printed By The Burton Club To Alexander Baird of Urie. My Dear Baird, I avail my self of a privilege of authorship, not yet utterly obsolete, to place your name at the head of this volume. Your long residence in Egypt and your extensive acquaintance with its "politic," private and public, make you a thouroughly competent judge of the merits and demerits of this volume; and encourage me to hope that in reading it you will take something of the pleasure I have had in writing it.. Ever yours sincerely, Richard F. Burton. Tangier, December 31, 1885. Contents of the Ninth Volume Ali Nur Al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-Girl (continued) 159. The Man of Upper Egypt and His Frankish Wife 160. The Ruined Man of Baghdad and his Slave-Girl 161. King Jali'ad of Hind and His Wazir Shimas: Followed by the History of King Wird Khan, son of King Jali'ad with His Women and Wazirs a. The Mouse and the Cat b. The Fakir and His Jar of Butter c. The Fishes and the Crab d. The Crow and the Serpent e. The Wild Ass and the Jackal f. The Unjust King and the Pilgrim Prince g. The Crows and the Hawk h. The Serpent-Charmer and His Wife i. The Spider and the Wind j. The Two Kings k. The Blind Man and the Cripple l. The Foolish Fisherman m. The Boy and the Thieves n. The Man and his Wife o. The Merchant and the Robbers p. The Jackals and the Wolf q. The Shepherd and the Rogue r. The Francolin and the Tortoises 162. Abu Kir the Dyer and Abu Sir the Barber 163. Abdullah the Fisherman and Abdullah the Merman 164. Harun Al-Rashid and Abu Hasan, The Merchant of Oman 165. Ibrahim and Jamilah 166. Abu Al-Hasan of Khorasan 167. Kamar Al-Zaman and the Jeweller's Wife 168. Abdullah Bin Fazil and His Brothers The Book Of The THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night, She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Din heard the voice singing these verses he said in himself, "Verily this be the Lady Miriam chanting without hesitation or doubt or suspicion of one from without.[FN#1] Would Heaven I knew an my thought be true and if it be indeed she herself or other self!" And regrets redoubled upon him and he bemoaned himself and recited these couplets, "When my blamer saw me beside my love * Whom I met in a site that lay open wide, I spake not at meeting a word of reproach * Though oft it comfort sad heart to chide; Quoth the blamer, 'What means this silence that bars * Thy making answer that hits his pride?' And quoth I, 'O thou who as fool dost wake, * To misdoubt of lovers and Love deride; The sign of lover whose love is true * When he meets his belovиd is mum to bide.'"