[146]. Koran, xvi. 112.
[147]. A common and expressive way of rewarding the tongue which “spoke poetry.” The jewels are often pearls.
IBRAHIM BIN AL-MAHDI AND THE BARBER-SURGEON.
They relate that Ibrahím, son of al-Mahdí,[[148]] brother of Harun al-Rashid, when the Caliphate devolved to Al-Maamun, the son of his brother Harun, refused to acknowledge his nephew and betook himself to Rayy[[149]]; where he claimed the throne and abode thus a year and eleven months and twelve days. Meanwhile his nephew, Al-Maamun, awaited his return to allegiance and his accepting a dependent position till, at last, despairing of this, he mounted with his horsemen and footmen and repaired to Rayy in quest of him. Now when the news came to Ibrahim, he found nothing for it but to flee to Baghdad and hide there, fearing for his life; and Maamun set a price of an hundred thousand gold pieces upon his head, to be paid to whoso might betray him. (Quoth Ibrahim) “When I heard of this price I feared for my head”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Seventy-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ibrahim continued:—Now when I heard of this price I feared for my head and knew not what to do: so I went forth of my house in disguise at midday, knowing not whither I should go. Presently I entered a broad street which was no thoroughfare and said in my mind, “Verily, we are Allah’s and unto Him we are returning! I have exposed my life to destruction. If I retrace my steps, I shall arouse suspicion.” Then, being still in disguise I espied, at the upper end of the street, a negro-slave standing at his door; so I went up to him and said to him, “Hast thou a place where I may abide for an hour of the day?” “Yes,” answered he, and opening the door admitted me into a decent house, furnished with carpets and mats and cushions of leather. Then he shut the door on me and went away; and I misdoubted me he had heard of the reward offered for me, and said to myself, “He hath gone to inform against me.” But, as I sat pondering my case and boiling like cauldron over fire, behold, my host came back, accompanied by a porter loaded with bread and meat and new cooking-pots and gear and a new jar and new gugglets and other needfuls. He made the porter set them down and, dismissing him, said to me, “I offer my life for thy ransom! I am a barber-surgeon, and I know it would disgust thee to eat with me, because of the way in which I get my livelihood;[[150]] so do thou shift for thyself and do what thou please with these things whereon no hand hath fallen.” (Quoth Ibrahim), Now I was in sore need of food so I cooked me a pot of meat whose like I remember not ever to have eaten; and, when I had satisfied my want, he said to me, “O my lord, Allah make me thy ransom! Art thou for wine?; for indeed it gladdeneth the soul and doeth away care.” “I have no dislike to it,” replied I, being desirous of the barber’s company; so he brought me new flagons of glass which no hand had touched and a jar of excellent wine, and said to me, “Strain for thyself, to thy liking;” whereupon I cleared the wine and mixed me a most delectable draught. Then he brought me a new cup and fruits and flowers in new vessels of earthenware; after which he said to me, “Wilt thou give me leave to sit apart and drink of my own wine by myself, of my joy in thee and for thee?” “Do so,” answered I. So I drank and he drank till the wine began to take effect upon us, when the barber rose and, going to a closet, took out a lute of polished wood and said to me, “O my lord, it is not for the like of me to ask the like of thee to sing, but it behoveth thine exceeding generosity to render my respect its due; so, if thou see fit to honour thy slave, thine is the high decision.” Quoth I (and indeed I thought not that he knew me), “How knowest thou that I excel in song?” He replied, “Glory be to Allah, our lord is too well renowned for that! Thou art my lord Ibrahim, son of Al-Mahdi, our Caliph of yesterday, he on whose head Al-Maamun hath set a price of an hundred thousand dinars to be paid to thy betrayer: but thou art in safety with me.” (Quoth Ibrahim), When I heard him say this, he was magnified in my eyes and his loyalty and noble nature were certified to me; so I complied with his wish and took the lute and tuned it, and sang. Then I bethought me of my severance from my children and my family and I began to say:—
Belike Who Yúsuf to his kin restored ✿ And honoured him in goal, a captive wight;
May grant our prayer to reunite our lots; ✿ For Allah, Lord of Worlds, hath all of might.
When the barber heard this, exceeding joy took possession of him and he was of great good cheer; for it is said that when Ibrahim’s neighbours heard him only sing out, “Ho, boy, saddle the mule!” they were filled with delight. Then, being overborne by mirth, he said to me, “O my lord, wilt thou give me leave to say what is come to my mind, albeit I am not of the folk of this craft?” I answered, “Do so; this is of thy great courtesy and kindness.” So he took the lute and sang these verses:—
To our beloveds we moaned our length of night; ✿ Quoth they, “How short the nights that us benight!”