[359]. In sign of honour. The threshold is important amongst Moslems: in one of the Mameluke Soldans’ sepulchres near Cairo I found a granite slab bearing the “cartouche” (shield) of Khufu (Cheops) with the four hieroglyphs hardly effaced.
[360]. i.e. One of the concubines by whose door he had passed.
[361]. Epistasis without the prostasis, “An she ordered thee so to do:” the situation justifies the rhetorical figure.
[362]. Arab. “Sardáb” see vol. i, 340.
[363]. Thirteenth Abbaside A.H. 252–255 (= 866–869). His mother was a Greek slave called Kabíhah (Al-Mas’udi and Al-Siyuti); for which “Banjah” is probably a clerical error. He was exceedingly beautiful and was the first to ride out with ornaments of gold. But he was impotent in the hands of the Turks who caused the mob to depose him and kill him—his death being related in various ways.
[364]. i.e. The reward from Allah for thy good deed.
[365]. Arab. “Nusk” abstinence from women, a part of the Zahid’s asceticism.
[366]. Arab. “Munázirah” the verbal noun of which, “Munázarah,” may also mean “dispute.” The student will distinguish between “Munazarah” and Munafarah = a contention for precedence in presence of an umpire.
[367]. The Mac. Edit. gives by mistake “Abú Dáúd”: the Bul. correctly “Abú Duwád.” He was Kázi al-Kuzát (High Chancellor) under Al-Mu’tasim, Al-Wasik bi ’llah (Vathek) and Al-Mutawakkil.
[368]. Arab. “Zaffú” = they led the bride to the bridegroom’s house; but here used in the sense of displaying her as both were in the palace.