Arabian Nights: 207th Night: Anis al Jalis, The Slave Girl - 7

I heard, O happy King, that One day, Nur al-Din sat in his father's palace, there was a knock at the door.  When he opened the door one of his father's friend and companions stood before him. The guest kissed him and said, "My lord, who he has left the like of you is not dead.  My lord, Nur al-Din Ali, take comfort, be cheerful, and stop mourning."

The words of father's friend influenced the mind of Nur al-Din Ali. He went to the guest hall, made some calculations brought there whatever needed for gathering, carousing and entertainment. Then he invited his friends to feasts and asked Anis al Jalis to join him.  Then he started banquets, one after the other dispensing, gifts, honours and favours.  His steward could see the drain that these banquets made on his wealth.  And he warned Nur al-Din Ali, "My lord, this enormous expense and lavish giving will erode our wealth." 

Nur al-Din said, "I will not listen to one word of yours.  Haven't you heard the poet says:
If I have wealth and be not liberal, 
May my hand wither and my foot be Stilled.  Show me a miser with glory
And the man who perished, giving.

He added, "If you have enough for my morning meal, why worry about my supper?"
The steward replied, "I don't agree with you. And I am leaving." Thus the steward went away. Nur al-Din continued to pursue his pleasures, and lavish ways.  If someone chanced to say to him, "Lord, your such and such orchard is lovely, he would say, "It is yours, as an irrevocable gift from a friend.  In this way he presented deeds, houses and baths to people who praised him.

One day, Anis al Jalis had been singing the following verses:

You thought well of good days,
Waiting for the other shoe to drop, 
Deluded by the peaceful nights, yet
In the peace of night sorrow stuns.

There was a knock at the door.  One of the guests said, "My lord, there is a knocking....."

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.




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