[353] Elmacini Historia Saracenica, page 120.
CHAPTER VII.
COMMENCING WITH PART OF THE THIRTY-SIXTH NIGHT, AND ENDING WITH PART OF THE FORTY-FOURTH.
THE STORY OF GHÁNIM THE SON OF EIYOOB, THE DISTRACTED SLAVE OF LOVE.
It hath been told me, O happy King, said Shahrazád, that there was, in ancient times, a certain merchant of Damascus,[1] possessed of wealth, who had a son like the moon at the full, of eloquent tongue, called Ghánim the son of Eiyoob,[2] the Distracted Slave of Love; and this son had a sister, named Fitneh,[3] on account of her excessive beauty and loveliness. Their father died, leaving them large property, among which were a hundred loads[4] of silk and brocade, and bags[5] of musk, and upon these loads was written, This is intended for Baghdád:—it having been his desire to journey to that city.