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him from the heat and the cold. Moreover, it would carry him, when he was weary, and guard his sheep from the wild beasts, whilst he slept.’ (Q.) ‘What woman was born of a man alone and what man of a woman alone?’ (A.) ‘Eve of Adam and Jesus of Mary.’ (Q.) ‘What fire eats and drinks, what fire eats but drinks not, what fire drinks but eats not and what other neither eats nor drinks?’ (A.) ‘Hellfire eats and drinks, the fire of the world eats but drinks not, the fire of the sun drinks but eats not, and that of the moon neither eats nor drinks.’ (Q.) ‘Which is the open [door] and which the shut [door]?’ (A.) ‘The Traditional Ordinances are the open, the Koranic the shut [door].’ (Q.) ‘Of what does the poet speak, when he says:
A dweller in the sepulchre, at ’s head his victual lies; Whenas he tastes thereof, he speaks and questions and replies.
He rises up and walks and talks, yet silent is the while, And turns anon unto the tomb wherefrom he did arise.
No living one is he, that hath a title to respect, Nor dead, that folk should say of him, “God’s mercy him comprise!”?’
(A.) ‘The pen.’ (Q.) ‘What does the poet refer to in these verses:
Two breasts in one it hath; its blood is eath and quick of flow, Wide-mouthed, though all the rest be black, its ears are white as snow.
It hath an idol like a cock, that doth its belly peck, And half a dirhem is its worth, if thou its price wouldst know?’
(A.) ‘The inkhorn.’ (Q.) ‘And in these:
Say to men of wit and learning and to doctors everywhere, Skilled to find the hidden meanings riddles and enigmas bear,
Come expound to me what is it that ye see a bird produce, ’Mongst the Arabs and barbarians and wherever else ye fare;
Neither flesh nor blood, I warrant, hath the thing whereof I speak; Neither down nor feathers, birdwise, for a garment doth it wear.
Boiled it is and likewise roasted, eaten hot and eaten cold; Yea, to boot, and when ’tis buried in the glowing embers’ flare,
