The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 09 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 09 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
"Take some servants and fare ye all and every to such a house and clean
it and furnish it with whatso is needful for this handsome youth." So
she went forth and did his bidding; whilst the old man took the youth
and showed him the house; and he said, "O my lord, how much may be the
rent of this house?" The other answered, "O bright of face, I will take
no rent of thee whilst thou abidest therein." Ibrahim thanked him for
this and the old man called another slave-girl, whereupon there came
forth to him a damsel like the sun, to whom said he, "Bring chess." So
she brought it and one of the servants set the cloth;[FN#303] whereupon
said the Shaykh to Ibrahim, "Wilt thou play with me?"; and he answered,
"Yes." So they played several games and Ibrahim beat him, when his
adversary exclaimed, "Well done, O youth! Thou art indeed perfect in
qualities. By Allah, there is not one in Baghdad can beat me, and yet
thou hast beaten me!" Now when they had made ready the house and
furnished it with all that was needful, the old man delivered the keys
to Ibrahim and said to him, "O my lord, wilt thou not enter my place
and eat of my bread?" He assented and walking in with him, found it a
handsome house and a goodly, decorated with gold and full of all manner
pictures and furniture galore and other things, such as tongue faileth
to set out. The old man welcomed him and called for food, whereupon
they brought a table of the make of Sana'a of al-Yaman and spread it
with all manner rare viands, than which there was naught costlier nor
more delicious. So Ibrahim ate his sufficiency, after which he washed
his hands and proceeded to inspect the house and furniture. Presently,
he turned to look for the leather bag, but found it not and said in
himself, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
Glorious, the Great! I have eaten a morsel worth a dirham or two and
have lost a bag wherein is thirty thousand dinars' worth: but I seek
aid of Allah!" And he was silent and could not speak,—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Nine Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
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