第97章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(19)

All the trades are like necklets of jewels and gold And this barber indeed's the chief pearl of the strings.

He excelleth all others that boast of their skill. And under his hand are the topknots of kings.'

'Leave what concerns thee not，'said I： 'indeed thou hast straitened my breast and troubled my mind.'Quoth heMeseems thou art in haste. 'Yesyesyes！'answered Iand he'Thou wouldst do well to proceed with deliberationfor haste is of the Devil and bequeaths repentance and disappointment. Verily he upon whom be blessing and peace hath said'The best affair is that which is undertaken with deliberation.'By Allahthy case troubles meand I would have thee let me know what it is thou art in such haste to dofor I fear me it is other than good.'

Then said he'It wants three hours yet of the time of prayer.

HoweverI do not wish to be in doubt as to thisbut am minded to know the time for certain；for speechwhen it is conjectural，is but faultyespecially in the like of mewhose merit is plain and known of all men；and it does not befit me to talk at random，as do the common sort of astrologers.'So sayinghe threw down the razor and taking up the astrolabewent out under the sun and stood a long whileafter which he returned and said to me'It wants three hours of the time of prayerneither more nor less.'

'By Allah，'answered I'hold thy tonguefor thou breakest my heart in pieces！'So he took his razor and after sharpening it as beforeshaved another part of my head. Then he said'I am concerned about thy haste；and indeed thou wouldst do well to tell me the cause of itfor thou knowest that thy father and grandfather did nothing without my counsel.'When I saw that there was no getting rid of himI said to myself'The time of prayer draws near and I wish to go to her before the folk come out from the mosque. If I am delayed much longerI know not how I shall come at her.'Then I said to him'Be quick and leave this prating and officiousnessfor I have to go to an entertainment at the house of one of my friends.'When he heard me speak of an entertainmenthe said'This thy day is a blessed one for me！Verilyyesterday I invited a party of my intimate friends and I have forgotten to provide aught for them to eat. I bethought me of it but nowon hearing thee speak of an entertainment. Alackhow I shall be disgraced in their eyes！'

'Be in no concern for that，'answered I. 'Have I not told thee that I am bidden abroad to-day？ All the meat and drink in the house shall be thineso thou despatch my affair and make haste to shave my head.'God requite thee with good！'rejoined he.

'Tell me what thou hast for my gueststhat I may know.'Quoth I，'I have five dishes of meat and ten fricasseed fowls and a roasted lamb.'Bring them out to me，'said he'that I may see them.'So I had all this broughtand when he saw ithe said，'There lacks the wine.'I have a flagon or two in the house，'answered I；and he said'Have it brought out.'So I sent for it，and he exclaimed'God bless thee for a generous soul！But there are still the perfumes and the essences.'So I brought him a box，containing fifty dinars'worth of aloes-wood and ambergris and musk and other perfumes. By thisthe time began to run short and my heart was straitened；so I said to him'Take it all and finish shaving my headby the life of Mohammedwhom God bless and preserve！'By Allah，'said he'I will not take it till I see all that is in it.'So I made the servant open the box，and the barber threw down the astrolabe and sitting down on the groundturned over the contentstill I was well-nigh distracted. Then he took the razor and coming up to meshaved some little of my head and recited the following verse：

The boy after his father's guise grows up and follows suit As surely as the tree springs up from out its parent root.

Then said he'O my sonI know not whether to thank thee or thy father；for my entertainment to-day is all due to thy kindness and liberalityand none of my company is worthy of it；though I have none but men of considerationsuch as Zentout the bath-keeper and Selya the corn-chandler and Silet the bean-seller and Akresheh the grocer and Hemid the scavenger and Said the camel-driver and Suweyd the porter and Abou Mukarish the bathman and Cassim the watchman and Kerim the groom.

There is not among them all one curmudgeon or make-bate or meddler or spoil-sport；each has his own dance that he dances and his own couplets that he repeatsand the best of them is that they are like thy servantknowing not abundance of talk nor meddlesomeness. The bath-keeper sings enchantingly to the tambourine and dances and says'I am goingO my motherto fill my jar！'As for the corn-chandlerhe brings more skill to it than any of them；he dances and says'O mournermy mistress，thou dost not fall short！'and draws the very heart out of one for laughing at him. Whilst the scavenger singsso that the birds stop to listen to himand dances and says'News with my wife is not kept in a chest！'And indeed he is a witty，accomplished rogueand of his excellence I use to say the following：

My life redeem the scavenger！I love him passing dearForin his goodly gaithe's like the zephyr-shaken bough.

Fate blessed my eyes with him one night；and I to him did say，（Whilst in my bosomas I spokedesire did ebb and flow，）

'Thou'st lit thy fire within my heart！'Whereto he answer made.

'What wonder though the scavenger have turned a fire-man now？'

And indeed each is perfection in all that can charm the wit with mirth and jollity. But hearing is not like seeing；and indeed if thou wilt join us and put off going to thy friendsit will be better both for us and for thee： for the traces of sickness are yet upon thee and belike thou art going amongst talkative folk，who will prate of what does not concern themor there may be amongst them some impertinent busybody who will split thy head，and thou still weak from illness.'This shall be for another day，'answered I and laughed in spite of my anger. 'Finish what thou hast to do for me and go in peace and enjoy thyself with thy friendsfor they will be awaiting thy coming.'