[44]. “A gift,” a present. It is instructive to compare Abu al-Hasan with Sancho Panza, sprightly Arab wit with grave Spanish humour.
[45]. i.e. he fell down senseless. The old version has “his head knocked against his knees.”
[46]. Arab. “Waddí” vulg. Egyptian and Syrian for the classical “Addí” (ii. of Adú = preparing to do). No wonder that Lane complains (iii. 376) of the “vulgar style, abounding in errors.”
[47]. O Apple, O Repose o’ Hearts, O Musk, O Choice Gift.
[48]. Arab. “Doghrí,” a pure Turkish word, in Egypt meaning “truly, with truth,” straightforwardly; in Syria = straight (going), directly.
[49]. Arab. “Máristán,” see vol. i. 288.
[50]. The scene is a rechauffé of Badr al-Din Hasan and his wife, i. 247.
[51]. Arab. “Janzír,” another atrocious vulgarism for “Zanjír,” which, however, has occurred before.
[52]. Arab. “Arafshah.”
[53]. In the “Mishkát al-Masábih” (ii. 341), quoted by Lane, occurs the Hadis, “Shut your doors anights and when so doing repeat the Basmalah; for the Devil may not open a door shut in Allah’s name.” A pious Moslem in Egypt always ejaculates, “In the name of Allah, the Compassionating,” etc., when he locks a door, covers up bread, doffs his clothes, etc., to keep off devils and dæmons.