or,
"Moollâh Adam got a good watch."
The animals, laden with the most valuable articles, were at the moment on the road below the window where we were seated, and the Elchee, pointing to them, said, "Sâ'et goozesht," the hour is past, or, the watch is gone. The countenance of the poet, which had, on reading his last line, glistened with expectation, changed for a moment, but was soon covered with forced smiles, and he declared that he would rather carry the Elchee's happy reply into the city than ten watches. I trembled lest this flattery should succeed: it did not; and he departed apparently in good humour, but inwardly, no doubt, much disappointed.
FOOTNOTES:
[41] This story is given in the History of Persia, vol. ii. p. 405.
[42] Tekkeyahs.
[43] The frail wife of Potiphar, according to the Mahomedans.
[44] The Mahomedan law only requires a small deduction on account of charity from what is necessary for subsistence; but of all superfluous wealth (and such Abdûlla deemed his ten piastres) true believers were expected to give one-fifth to the poor.
[45] "Pool-e-siyâh," literally, black coin.