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whilst Noureddin arose, sore enraged, and prayed the morning-prayer. Then he went to his treasury, and taking a small pair of saddle-bags, filled them with gold. And he called to mind his brother’s words and the contempt with which he had treated him and repeated the following verses:
Travel, for you shall find new friends in place of those you leave, And labour, for in toil indeed the sweets of life reside.
Nor gain nor honour comes to him who idly stays at home; So leave thy native land behind and journey far and wide.
Oft have I seen a stagnant pool corrupt with standing still; If water run, ’tis sweet, but else grows quickly putrefied.
If the full moon were always high and never waned nor set, Men would not strain their watchful eyes for it at every tide.
Except the arrow leave the bow, ’twill never hit the mark, Nor will the lion chance on prey, if in the copse he bide.
The aloes in its native land a kind of firewood is, And precious metals are but dust whilst in the mine they hide.
The one is sent abroad and grows more precious straight than gold; The other’s brought to light and finds its value magnified.
Then he bade one of his people saddle him his mule with a padded saddle. Now she was a dapple mule, high-backed, like a dome builded upon columns; her saddle was of cloth of gold and her stirrups of Indian steel, her housings of Ispahan velvet, and she was like a bride on her wedding night. Moreover, he bade lay on her back a carpet of silk and strap the saddle-bags on that and spread a prayer-rug over the whole. The man did as he bade him and Noureddin said to his servants, “I have a mind to ride out a-pleasuring towards Kelyoubiyeh, and I shall lie three nights abroad; but let none of you follow me, for my heart is heavy.” Then he mounted the mule in haste and set out from Cairo, taking with him a little victual, and made for the open country. About mid-day, he reached the town of Belbeys, where he alighted and rested himself and the mule. Then he took out food and ate and fared on again
