[FN#292] The Bul. and Mac. Edits. give the Princess's malady, in error, as Dбa al-Sudб' (megrims), instead of Dбa al-Sar' (epilepsy) as in the Bresl. Edit. The latter would mean that she is possessed by a demon, again the old Scriptural fancy (see vol. v. 28). The subject is highly fitted for romance but not for a "serious" book which ought to know better.
[FN#293] Arab. "Al-'Бriz"=the demon who possessed her.
[FN#294] i.e. He hath renounced his infamous traffic.
[FN#295] Alluding to the favourite Eastern saying, "The poor man hath no life."
[FN#296] In this and the following lines some change is necessary for the Bresl. and Mac. texts are very defective. The Arabic word here translated "recess" is "Aywбn," prop. a hall, an open saloon.
[FN#297] i.e. by selling it for thirty thousand gold pieces, when he might have got a million for it.
[FN#298] The tale is not in the Bresl. Edit.
[FN#299] Al-Khasнb (= the fruitful) was the son of 'Abd al-Hamнd and intendant of the tribute of Egypt under Harun al-Rashid, but neither Lord nor Sultan. Lane (iii. 669) quotes three couplets in his honour by Abu Nowбs from p. 119 of "Elmacini (Al-Makнn) Historia Saracenica."
If our camel visit not the land of Al-Khasib, what man after Al-Khasib shall they visit? For generosity is not his neighbour; nor hath it sojourned near him; but generosity goeth wherever he goeth: He is a man who purchaseth praise with his wealth, and who knoweth that the periods of Fortune revolve.
[FN#300] The old story "Alа jъdi-k"= upon thy generosity, which means at least ten times the price.