第110章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(32)

When the Barmecide heard my brother's wordshe laughed heartily and exclaimed'Long have I used to make mock of men and play the fool with those who are apt at jesting and horse-play；but never have I come across anywho had patience and wit to enter into all my humoursbut thee；so I pardon thee，and now thou shalt be my boon companionin very deedand never leave me.'Then he bade his servants lay the table in good earnestand they set on all the dishes of which he had spoken，and he and my brother ate till they were satisfiedafter which they removed to the drinking-chamberwhere they found damsels like moonswho sang all manner of songs and played on all kinds of musical instruments. There they remaineddrinkingtill drunkenness overcame themand the host used my brother as a familiar friendso that he became as it were his brotherand bestowed on him a dress of honour and loved him with an exceeding love. Next morningthey fell again to feasting and carousing，and ceased not to lead this life for twenty yearsat the end of which time the Barmecide died and the Sultan laid hands on all his property and squeezed my brothertill he stripped him of all he had. So he left the city and fled forth at randombut the Arabs fell on him midway and taking him prisonercarried him to their campwhere the Bedouinhis captortortured himsaying，'Ransom thyself with moneyor I will kill thee.'My brother fell a-weeping and replied'By AllahI have nought！I am thy prisoner；do with me as thou wilt.'Thereupon the Bedouin took out a knife and cut off my brother's lipsstill urging his demand. Now this Bedouin had a handsome wifewho used to make advances to my brotherin her husband's absenceand offer him her favoursbut he held off from her. One dayshe began to tempt him as usualand he toyed with her and took her on his kneewhen loin came the Bedouinand seeing thiscried out，'Woe to theethou villain！Wouldst thou debauch my wife？'Then he took out a knife and cut off my brother's yardafter which he set him on a camel and carried him to a mountainwhere he threw him down and left him. Here he was found by some travellerswho recognized him and gave him meat and drink and acquainted me with his plightwhereupon I went forth to him and brought him back to Baghdadwhere I provided him with enough to live on. This then，O Commander of the Faithfulis the history of my brothersand I was unwilling to go away without relating it to theethat I might disabuse thee of thine error in confounding me with them.

And now thou knowest that I have six brothers and support them all.'When the Khalif heard my wordshe laughed and said'Thou sayst soothO Silent One！Thou art neither a man of many words nor an impertinent meddler；but now go out from this city and settle in another.'And he banished me from the city；so I left Baghdad and travelled in foreign countriestill I heard of his death and the coming of another to the Khalifate. Then I returned to Baghdadwhere I found my brothers dead and fell in with this young manto whom I rendered the best of servicesfor without me he had been killed. Indeed he accuses me of what is foreign to my nature and what he relates of my impertinence is false；for verily I left Baghdad on his account and wandered in many countriestill I came to this city and happened on him with you；

and was not thisO good peopleof the generosity of my nature？'

When we heard the barber's story （continued the tailor） and saw the abundance of his speech and the way in which he had oppressed the young manwe laid hands on him and shut him upafter which we sat down in peace and ate and drank till the time of the call to afternoon-prayerwhen I left the company and returned home.

My wife was sulky and said to me'Thou hast taken thy pleasure all daywhilst I have been moping at home. So nowexcept thou carry me abroad and amuse me for the rest of the dayit will be the cause of my separation from thee.'So I took her out and we amused ourselves till nightfallwhen we returned home and met the hunchbackbrimming over with drunkenness and repeating the following verses：

The glass is pellucidand so is the wine： So bring them together and see them combine：

Tis a puzzle；one momentall wine and no cup；At anotherin turn'tis all cup and no wine.