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So I entered this city, knowing not where to pass the night, and seeing this place, I took shelter here. 'O my son, said the old man, 'what sayst thou to a thousand dinars and a suit of clothes and a mule worth other two thousand? 'To what end wilt thou give me this? asked Alaeddin, and the other answered, 'This young man, whom thou seest, is the only son of my brother and I have an only daughter called Zubeideh the Lutanist, who is endowed with beauty and grace.
But take this one that is left. So she turned to Alaeddin and said to him, 'Wilt thou serve in the church, or shall I let the King kill thee? Quoth he, 'I will serve in the church. So she took him and carried him forth of the palace to the church, where he said to her, 'What service must I do? And she answered, 'Thou must arise in the morning and take five mules and go with them into the forest and there cut dry firewood and split it and bring it to the convent-kitchen.
When dealing with the Nights proper we gave the reader an opportunity of comparing Burton's translation with Payne's which preceded it. We now purpose placing in juxtaposition two passages from their supplemental volumes, and we cannot do better than choose from either "Alaeddin" or "Zayn Al Asnam," as in the case of both the order is reversed, Burton's translation having preceded Payne's.
Now his mule was athirst and turned aside to drink, but took fright at Alaeddin's shadow in the water and started; whereupon Mehmoud raised his eyes and seeing Alaeddin lying in the niche, stripped to his shirt and trousers, said to him, 'Who hath dealt thus with thee and left thee in this ill plight? 'The Bedouins, answered Alaeddin, and Mehmoud said, 'O my son, the mules and the baggage were thy ransom; so do thou comfort thyself with the saying of the poet: So but a man may win to save his soul alive from death, But as the paring of his nail his wealth he reckoneth.
So they said to him, 'Whose goods are these? 'They belong to my lord Alaeddin Abou esh Shamat, answered he. 'His father equipped him with merchandise and sent him on a journey to Baghdad; but the Bedouins fell on him and took all he had.
He saw him in the street and received him with open arms, embracing him and welcoming him. Ed Denef gave him the good news of his son Aslan and how he was now come to the age of twenty; and Alaeddin, in his turn, told the captain of the guard all that had befallen him, whereat he marvelled exceedingly.
Now the Khalif set thee in high place about him and styled thee "Trusty" and "Faithful;" how then couldst thou deal thus with him and steal his goods? 'By the Most Great Name, O my father, replied Alaeddin, 'I had no hand in this, nor do I know who did it. Quoth Ahmed, 'Of a surety none did this but a manifest enemy and whoso doth aught shall be requited for his deed; but, O Alaeddin, thou canst tarry no longer in Baghdad, for kings, O my son, may not be bought off and longsome is his travail whom they pursue. 'Whither shall I go, O my father? asked Alaeddin.
As the Khalif was sitting on the throne, Alaeddin appeared at the door of the Divan, repeating the following verses: Good fortune and glory still wait on thy days And rubbed in the dust be thine envier's nose! May the days never stint to be white unto thee And black with despite be the days of thy foes!
Moreover, I have made my peace with my father-in- law and my wife is confirmed to me; so praised be God for this! Presently the Khalif rose to do an occasion; whereupon Jaafer turned to Alaeddin and said to him, 'Look to thy manners, for thou art in the presence of the Commander of the Faithful. 'How have I failed in good breeding before the Commander of the Faithful, asked he, 'and which of you is he? Quoth Jaafer, 'He who went out but now is the Commander of the Faithful and I am the Vizier Jaafer: this is Mesrour the headsman, and this other is Abou Nuwas ben Hani.
Meanwhile Alaeddin sold all that was in his shop, till he had but a few things let and amongst the rest a bag. So he shook the bag and there fell out a jewel, big enough to fill the palm of the hand, hanging to a chain of gold and having five faces, whereon were names and talismanic characters, as they were ant-tracks. 'God is All-knowing! quoth he.
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