The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.: Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments
General
The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.: Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
The narrator continues by saying, that he was struck dumb and motionless
with ecstasy; and that the strange sheykh, after having played and sung
again, and taught him an enchanting air (with which he afterwards
enraptured his patron, the Khaleefeh), vanished. Ibráheem, in alarm,
seized his sword; and was the more amazed when he found that the porter
had not seen the stranger enter or leave the house; but he heard his
voice again, outside, telling him that he was Aboo-Murrah (the
Devil).[244]--Two other anecdotes of a similar kind are related in the
work from which the above is taken.
Ibráheem El-Móṣilee, his son Is-ḥáḳ, and Mukháriḳ (a pupil of the
former), were especially celebrated among the Arab musicians, and among
the distinguished men of the reign of Hároon Er-Rasheed. Is-ḥáḳ
El-Móṣilee relates, of his father Ibráheem, that when Er-Rasheed took
him into his service, he gave him a hundred and fifty thousand dirhems,
and allotted him a monthly pension of ten thousand dirhems, besides
occasional presents [one of which is mentioned as amounting to a hundred
thousand dirhems for a single song], and the produce of his (Ibráheem's)
farms: he had food constantly prepared for him; three sheep every day
for his kitchen, besides birds; three thousand dirhems were allowed him
for fruits, perfumes, &c., every month, and a thousand dirhems for his
clothing; "and with all this," says his son, "he died without leaving
more than three thousand deenárs, a sum not equal to his debts, which I
paid after his death."[245]--Ibráheem was of Persian origin, and of a
high family. He was commonly called the Nedeem (or cup-companion), being
Er-Rasheed's favourite companion at the wine-table; and his son, who
enjoyed the like distinction with El-Ma-moon, received the same
appellation, as well as that of "Son of the Nedeem." Ibráheem was the
most famous musician of his time, at least till his son attained
celebrity.[246]
Is-ḥáḳ El-Móṣilee was especially famous as a musician; but he was also a
good poet, accomplished in general literature, and endowed with great
wit. He was honoured above all other persons in the pay of El-Ma-moon,
and enjoyed a long life; but for many years before his death he was
blind.[247]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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