Thousand & One Nights: 162nd Night: The Barber Tells His Story - 12

My fifth brother, cropped ears was a poor man who used to beg by night and live by day.  When our father fell sick and died in his old age, he left seven hundred dinars, which we divided equally among ourselves. My fifth brother had no idea as to what he would do with the legacy. Later he entered in the buying and selling of glass.  He bought hundred dirhams worth glass and put them in a large  basket, and sat before a tailor's shop, which had a balustrade at the entrance.

My brother leaned against the balustrade and sat, thinking to himself, "I have a capital of a hundred dirhams' worth of glass, which I will sell for two hundred dirhams, with which I will buy more glass which I will sell for four hundred dirhams.  I will continue to buy and sell until I have four thousand dirhams, then ten thousand, with which I will buy all kinds of jewels and perfumes and make a great profit.  Then I will buy a 
fine house, together with slaves and horses, and I will eat and drink and carouse and bring every singing man and woman in the city to sing to me, for the Almighty God willing, my caipal will be hundred thousand dirhams.

All this went through his head, while the hundred dirhams glass sat in the basket before him.  

He continued saying to himself, "As soon as I have amassed a hundred thousand dirhams, I will send out marriage brokers to demand for me in marriage the daughters of kings and viziers.  In fact, I will ask for the hand of the vizier's daughter, for I have heard that she is singularly beautiful, that she is all perfection and grace.  I will give her a dowry of a thousand Dinars.  If her father consents well; if not I will take her by force.  When I return home I will buy ten little slaves as well as clothes fit for kings, and I will get for me a saddle of gold, and have it set with jewels.  Then I will ride and parade in the city, with slaves before me and behind me, while the people salute me, and invoke blessings on me.  When I go to see the vizier, with slaves on my right and left, he will rise in greeting and, seat me in his place, and he will sit below me because I am his son-in-law.  I will have with me two slaves, carrying purses, each wih a thousand dinars, one for the dowry, the other as a present, so that the vizier may know my generosity, magnanimity, and my disdain for the world.

Then I will return to my house, and if someone comes to me from the bride, I will give him money and bestow on him a robe of honour, but if he brings me a present, I will not accept it, but will return it, for I will maintain my dignity.  I will prepare my house and ask them to make the  bride ready, and when she is ready, I will bid them lead her to me in a procession. When the time to unveil the bride comes, I will put my best clothes, and sit on a seat of silk brocade and lean on a cushion, turning neither right nor left, because of my sense of propriety, and my reticence, gravity and wisdom.  My bride will stand before me like the full moon, in her robes and ornaments, and I out of sense of self-respect, dignity and pride will not look at her until all those who are present, will say to me, 'O our lord and master, your wife and slave stands before you.  Be kind to her and grant her a glance, for standing hurts her.'  After they kiss the ground
before me many times, I will raise my head, give her one look, and bend my head again.  Then they will take her away, and I will rise and change my clothes for a finer suit.  When they bring the bride for a second time, in her second dress, I will not look at her until they stand before me and implore me many times.  Then I will give her a quick glance; and then look down again.  I will continue to do this, until they finish displaying her.

But morning overtook, and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.





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