123 ([return])
[ Arab. "Yá Luss"; for this word = the Gr. {Greek}; see Suppl. vol. v. index.]
124 ([return])
[ "Al-Nátúr," the keeper, esp. of a vineyard, a word naturalized in Persian. The Caliph asks, Is this a bon> fide affair and hast thou the power to settle the matter definitely? M. Houdas translates as Les raisins sont-ils à toi, ou bien es-tu seulement la gardienne de la vigne? (The verb záraba, 3rd form, followed by the accusative, means "to join one in partnership." The sense of the passage seems therefore to be: Dost thou own grapes thyself, or art thou ("tuzáribí," 2 fem. sing.) in partnership with the vineyard-keeper. The word may be chosen because it admits of another interpretation, the double entendre of which might be kept up in English by using the expression "sleeping" partnership. Perhaps, however, "tuzáribí" means here simply: "Dost thou play the part of."—ST.)]
125 ([return])
[ The innuendo is intelligible and I may draw attention to the humorous skill with which the mother-in-law's character is drawn.]
126 ([return])
[ In text "Aská-hu 'alakah" = gave him a good sound drubbing ('alakah), as a robber would apply to a Judge had he the power.]
127 ([return])
[ Lest he happen to meet an unveiled woman on the stairs; the usual precaution is to cry "Dastúr!" by your leave (Persian).]