[604]. The normal pun: “Fátihah,” fem. of “fátih” = an opener, a conqueror, is the first Koranic chapter, for which see iv. 36.
[605]. This appears to be a kind of padding introduced to fill up the Night. The loan of an ass is usually granted gratis in Fellah villages and Badawi camps. See Matth. xxi. 2, 3; Mark xi. 2–6, and Luke xix. 30–34.
[606]. i.e. O Moslem, opposed to Enemy of Allah = a non-Moslem. In text Yá ’Ibád, plur. for sing.
[607]. Arab. “Kashshara” = grinned a ghastly smile; it also means laughing so as show the teeth.
[608]. This tale follows “The Kazi of Baghdad, his treacherous Brother and his Virtuous Wife,” which is nothing but a replica of “The Jewish Kazi and his Pious Wife” (vol. v. 256). Scott has translated it, after his fashion, in vol. vi. p. 396–408, and follows it up with “The Sultan’s Story of Himself,” which ends his volume as it shall be the conclusion of mine.
[609]. In text, “Wa yaakhazu ’l thalátha arbá’ min máli-hi wa salbi hálí-hi.”
[610]. In text, “La-hu Diráah (for “Diráyah” = prudence) fí tadbírí ’l-Mulúk.”
[611]. In text “Al-Sirru ’l-iláhi,” i.e. the soul, which is “divinæ particula auræ.”
[612]. In text “Nuwájiru ’l-wukúfát.” [I read “nuwájiru (for “nuájiru”) ’l-wukúfát,” taking the first word to be a verb corresponding to the preceding, “nabí’u,” and the second a clerical error for “al-Maukúfát.” In this case the meaning would be: “and letting for hire such parts of my property as were inalienable.”—St.]
[613]. Here the text has the normal enallage of persons, the third for the first, “the youth” for “I.” I leave it unaltered by way of specimen.