CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

Breslau Tert.
PAGE
1. THE SLEEPER AND THE WAKER[1]
(Lane, ii. pp. 352–79, The Story of Abu-l-Hasan the Wag, or the Sleeper Awakened).
a. Story of the Larrikin and the Cook[4]
2. THE CALIPH OMAR BIN ABD AL-AZIZ AND THE POETS[39]
3. AL-HAJJAJ AND THE THREE YOUNG MEN[47]
4. HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE WOMAN OF THE BARMECIDES[51]
5. THE TEN WAZIRS; OR THE HISTORY OF KING AZADBAKHT AND HIS SON[55]
a. Of the Uselessness of Endeavour Against the Persistent Ill Fortune[63]
aa. Story of the Merchant Who Lost His Luck[65]
b. Of Looking to the Ends of Affairs[73]
bb. Tale of the Merchant and His Sonsib.
c. Of the Advantages of Patience[81]
cc. Story of Abu Sabirib.
d. Of the Ill Effects of Impatience[89]
dd. Story of Prince Bihzadib.
e. Of the Issues of Good and Evil Actions[93]
ee. Story of King Dadbin and His Wazirs[94]
f. Of Trust in Allah[102]
ff. Story of King Bakhtzamanib.
g. Of Clemency[107]
gg. Story of King Bihkardib.
h. Of Envy and Malice[111]
hh. Story of Aylan Shah and Abu Tammam[112]
i. Of Destiny or that which is Written on the Forehead[120]
ii. Story of King Ibrahim and his Son[121]
j. Of the Appointed Term, which, if it be Advanced, may not be Deferred, and if it be Deferred, may not be Advanced[129]
jj. Story of King Sulayman Shah and his Niece[131]
k. Of the Speedy Relief of Allah[151]
kk. Story of the Prisoner and how Allah gave him Reliefib.
6. JA’AFAR BIN YAHYA AND ABD AL-MALIK BIN SALIH THE ABBASIDE[159]
7. AL-RASHID AND THE BARMECIDES[165]
8. IBN AL-SAMMAK AND AL-RASHID[171]
9. AL-MAAMUN AND ZUBAYDAH[175]
10. AL-NU’UMAN AND THE ARAB OF THE BANU TAY[179]
11. FIRUZ AND HIS WIFE[185]
12. KING SHAH BAKHT AND HIS WAZIR AL-RAHWAN[191]
a. Tale of the Man of Khorasan, his Son and his Tutor[194]
b. Tale of the Singer and the Druggist[203]
c. Tale of the King who Kenned the Quintessence of Things[212]
d. Tale of the Richard who Married his Beautiful Daughter to the Poor Old Man[218]
e. Tale of the Sage and his Three Sons[222]
f. Tale of the Prince who Fell in Love with the Picture[226]
g. Tale of the Fuller and his Wife and the Trooper[231]
h. Tale of the Merchant, the Crone, and the King[235]
i. Tale of the Simpleton Husband[239]
j. Tale of the Unjust King and the Tither[242]
jj. Story of David and Solomon[244]
k. Tale of the Robber and the Woman[246]
l. Tale of the Three Men and our Lord Isa[250]
ll. The Disciple’s Story[251]
m. Tale of the Dethroned Ruler whose Reign and Wealth were Restored to Him[253]
n. Tale of the Man whose Caution Slew Him[258]
o. Tale of the Man who was Lavish of his House and his Provision to One whom he knew not[259]
p. Tale of the Melancholist and the Sharper[264]
q. Tale of Khalbas and his Wife and the Learned Man[267]
r. Tale of the Devotee Accused of Lewdness[270]
s. Tale of the Hireling and the Girl[279]
t. Tale of the Weaver who became a Leach by Order of his Wife[282]
u. Tale of the Two Sharpers who each Cozened his Compeer[288]
v. Tale of the Sharpers with the Shroff and the Ass[298]
w. Tale of the Cheat and the Merchants[302]
wa. Story of the Falcon and the Locust[305]
x. Tale of the King and his Chamberlain’s Wife[308]
xa. Story of the Crone and the Draper’s Wife[309]
y. Tale of the Ugly Man and his Beautiful Wife[315]
z. Tale of the King who Lost Kingdom and Wife and Wealth and Allah Restored them to him[319]
aa. Tale of Salim the Youth of Khorasan and Salma, his Sister[332]
bb. Tale of the King of Hind and his Wazir[352]
13. SHAHRAZAD AND SHAHRYAR[359]

SUPPLEMENTAL NIGHTS

TO THE BOOK OF THE

THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT.

THE SLEEPER AND THE WAKER.[[1]]

It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that there was once at Baghdad, in the Caliphate of Harun al-Rashid, a man and a merchant, who had a son Abú al-Hasan-al-Khalí’a by name.[[2]] The merchant died leaving great store of wealth to his heir who divided it into two equal parts, whereof he laid up one and spent of the other half; and he fell to companying with Persians[[3]] and with the sons of the merchants and he gave himself up to good drinking and good eating, till all the wealth[[4]] he had with him was wasted and wantoned; whereupon he betook himself to his friends and comrades and cup-companions and expounded to them his case, discovering to them the failure of that which was in his hand of wealth. But not one of them took heed of him or even deigned answer him. So he returned to his mother (and indeed his spirit was broken) and related to her that which had happened to him and what had befallen him from his friends, how they had neither shared with him nor requited him with speech. Quoth she, “O Abu al-Hasan, on this wise are the sons[[5]] of this time: an thou have aught, they draw thee near to them,[[6]] and if thou have naught, they put thee away from them.” And she went on to condole with him, what while he bewailed himself and his tears flowed and he repeated these lines:—

An wane my wealth, no man will succour me, ✿ When my wealth waxeth all men friendly show:

How many a friend, for wealth showed friendliness ✿ Who, when my wealth departed, turned to foe!

Then he sprang up and going to the place wherein was the other half of his good, took it and lived with it well; and he sware that he would never again consort with a single one of those he had known, but would company only with the stranger nor entertain even him but one night and that, when it morrowed, he would never know him more. Accordingly he fell to sitting every eventide on the bridge over Tigris and looking at each one who passed by him; and if he saw him to be a stranger, he made friends with him and carried him to his house, where he conversed and caroused with him all night till morning. Then he dismissed him and would never more salute him with the Salam nor ever more drew near unto him neither invited him again. Thus he continued to do for the space of a full year, till, one day, while he sat on the bridge, as was his wont, expecting who should come to him so he might take him and pass the night with him, behold, up came the Caliph and Masrur, the Sworder of his vengeance[[7]] disguised in merchants’ dress, according to their custom. So Abu al-Hasan looked at them and rising, because he knew them not, asked them, “What say ye? Will ye go with me to my dwelling-place, so ye may eat what is ready and drink what is at hand, to wit, platter-bread[[8]] and meat cooked and wine strained?” The Caliph refused this, but he conjured him and said to him, “Allah upon thee, O my lord, go with me, for thou art my guest this night, and baulk not my hopes of thee!” And he ceased not to press him till he consented; whereat Abu al-Hasan rejoiced and walking on before him, gave not over talking with him till they came to his house and he carried the Caliph into the saloon. Al-Rashid entered a hall such as an thou sawest it and gazedst upon its walls, thou hadst beheld marvels; and hadst thou looked narrowly at its water-conduits thou wouldst have seen a fountain cased with gold. The Caliph made his man abide at the door; and, as soon as he was seated, the host brought him somewhat to eat; so he ate, and Abu al-Hasan ate with him that eating might be grateful to him. Then he removed the tray and they washed their hands and the Commander of the Faithful sat down again; whereupon Abu al-Hasan set on the drinking vessels and seating himself by his side, fell to filling and giving him to drink[[9]] and entertaining him with discourse. And when they had drunk their sufficiency the host called for a slave-girl like a branch of Bán who took a lute and sang to it these two couplets:—