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put on and sat up as before with his courtiers. Presently, he saw the Khalif and Jaafer whispering together and said to them, ‘What is the matter, gentlemen?’ ‘Nothing, my lord,’ replied Jaafer, ‘save that my friend here, who (as is not unknown to thee) is of the merchants and hath visited all the great cities and countries of the world and foregathered with kings and men of worth, saith to me, “Verily, that which our lord the Khalif hath done this night is beyond measure extravagant, never saw I any do the like of his fashion in any country; for he hath rent four dresses, each worth a thousand dinars, and this is surely excessive extravagance.”’ ‘O man,’ replied the youth, ‘the money is my money and the stuff my stuff and this is by way of largesse to my servants and followers; for each suit that is rent belongeth to one of my boon-companions here present and I appoint him, in exchange therefor, [if it so like him,] the sum of five hundred dinars.’ ‘Well is that thou dost, O our lord!’ answered Jaafer and recited the following verses:
The virtues sure have built themselves a dwelling in thy palm; Thou hast thy wealth to all mankind made common property.
An if the virtues’ doors were shut on us one luckless day, Thy hand unto their locks, indeed, were even as a key.
When the young man heard these verses, he ordered Jaafer a thousand dinars and a dress of honour. Then the cup went round among them and the wine was pleasant to them; but, after awhile, the Khalif said to Jaafer, ‘Ask him of the marks on his ribs, that we may see what he will say.’ ‘Softly, O my lord,’ replied Jaafer; ‘be not hasty, for patience is more becoming.’ ‘By the life of my head and by the tomb of El Abbas,’[1] rejoined the Khalif, ‘except thou ask him, I will assuredly make an end of thee!’ With this the young man turned towards Jaafer and said
- ↑ The Prophet’s uncle, from whom the Abbaside Khalifs were descended.
