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Thousand & One Nights:172nd Night: The Wealthy Man & The Slave Girl - 2

On the same day after nightfall, the maid came to the shop of Abu al-Hasan, greeted him and said, "My lord, Abu al-Hasan, my mistress Shams al-Nahar, the favourite of the Commander of Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, bids you and my lord Nur al-Din Ali, in the name of God to come to her." Abu al-Hasan rose, and said to Nur al-Din Ali, "very well my lord, let us go." They disguised themselves and and followed the girl at a distance until she entered the Caliph's palace, and then to the lodging of Shams al-Nahar and later the young man found himself in a room that looked like a chamber in Paradise, furnished with couches, cushions, and pillows, the like of which he had never seen.  After he and Abu al-Hasan were seated, and settled in their places, the black maid set a table with different dishes before them, and waited on them. The young man ate and marveled at the delicious food: suckling lambs, fatted chickens, and other birds, such as grouse, quail, and pigeons, the...
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Thousand & One Nights: 171st Night: The Wealthy Man & A Slave Girl 1

City of Baghdad. Abul al Hasan ibn Tahir was a man of wealth and status.  But he was truthful, well-mannered, friendly and well-liked everywhere.  He was a visitor of Caliph's palace, and most of the Caliph's women and concubines used to go to him to fill their needs. He was also patronised by sons of princes and notable men, one of whom was the descendant of the Kings of Persia, a young man named  Nur-al-Din Ali ibn-Bakkar. He was a perfect beauty, and grace. Moreover, he was virtuous, wise, noble, generous and brave.  He was much attached to Abu al-Hasan ibn Tahir that he could not bear to leave him even for a moment. One day, both Nur-al-Din and Abu al-Hasan had been sitting in his shop, there came ten full bosomed virgins, looking like full moons, with a young lady, riding on a grey she-mule with trappings of silk set with gems and pearls.  Her beauty, which put the full moon to shame, radiated all over her attendants, for she was like her of whom poet said:...
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Thousand & One Nights: 170th Night: The Hunchback Comes To Life

The king of China bade the barber be told the story of the hunchback. The story was repeated.  When the barber heard the story of the Hunchback, he shook his head and said, "This is amazing.  "Uncover for me the Hunchback," The Hunchback was uncovered.  The barber sat down, and took the Hunchback's head in his lap, looked at his face and burst out laughing until he fell on his back.  Then he exclaimed again, "How amazing.  To every death there is a cause, but the story of the hunchback is deserved to be recorded in golden letters."  Those present were puzzled by his words, and the king of China asked, "What do you mean the Silent One?"  The barber said, "By your bounty, there is still life in this hunchback."  Then he untied a leather bag from his belt and, opening it, took out a jar of ointment, and applied it liberally to hunchback's neck.  Then he took an iron stick, and inserting it into the hunchback's mouth, pride upon his ...
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Thousand & One Nights:169th Night: The King Summons The Barber

The tailor said to the king of China: Yesterday, when we heard the Barber's story, we realised that he was a garrulous fellow, who had wronged the lame young man, we seized him, bound him, and locked him up.  Then we sat and enjoyed the banquet till late afternoon.  When I left and came home, my wife scowled, and said, "You have been roaming around and partying all day, while I have been sequestered home.  If you don't take me out now, I will leave you."  I took her out and we entertained ourselves till nightfall.  When we returned home, we met the roguish hunchback, who was very drunk.  I invited him to our house, bought fish, and we sat down to eat. When we were almost finished, I took the last piece, which happened to have a bone, crammed into his mouth, and held it shut.  He choked, his eyes bulged, and he stopped breathing.  I rose and boxed him on the back, but the piece lodged in his throat and he died.  I carried him and contrived to ...
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Thousand & One Nights: 168th Night: The Barber Tells His Story

The host said to my brother, "I do pardon you.  Be a real companion to me, and never leave me." He summoned several servants and ordered them to set real tables, which they laid with all the dishes mentioned and my brother and host ate until they were satisfied.  Then they moved to the drinking chamber, where they found young ladies like moons, who played all kinds of musical instruments.  There they drank until they got drunk.  The host felt a great affection for my brother, treated him as intimately as a brother, and bestowed on him a robe of honour. Next morning.  They resumed eating and drinking.  Thus they continue to carouse for ten full days.  Afterwards the Barmaki entrusted his affairs to my brother, who managed his estate for twenty years.  But when the man died - Glory be to the Living who died not - the king seized all his property, including that of his brother, leaving him a helpless pauper. My brother left the city and wandered all ...
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Thousand & One Nights: 167th Night: Barber Tells His Story

My sixth brother, cropped of his lips, the lipless, or unlipped was rich in the beginning, but later became poor, and used to take alms. One day as he went out looking for something to eat, he came to a handsome house, with a wide entrance and wide gate, guarded by attendants and servants. He asked one of the guard, "Who is the master of the house?"  The guard replied, "One of the Barkamis." He reached the door keepers and asked for alms, and they said, "Enter, and our master will give you what you want." He entered the premises, and then entered a long hallway, found himself in a lovely mansion, that was spread with carpets and hung with curtains, and in the middle of which stood a garden, the like of which he had never seen before.  He stood for a while, perplexed, not knowing where to go; then he proceeded towards the door of reception room, and when he entered, he saw at the upper end a handsome man with a fine beard.  He approached the man, who, when ...
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Thousand & One Nights 166th Night: The Barber Tells His Story

My brother was brought before the chief of police.  The chief asked him, "Where did you get all these possessions?" My brother replied, "Grant me immunity first." "Granted," said the chief. My brother told him about his adventure with the old woman and the flight of the young lady from beginning to end. Then he added, "Whatever I took is still in my possession.  Take what you wish, and leave me enough to live on."  But the chief sent his men and they took all the money and clothes and, fearing lest the matter should reach the king, he summoned my brother again and said to him, "Leave the city or I will have you put to death." My brother replied, "I hear and obey." He set out for another city.  On the way some thieves set upon him and stripped him of his clothes.  When I heard of it, I took some clothes and went out after him,  clothed him and  brought him secretly into the city to join his brothers. Morning overtook, and Shahr...
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