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Updated: June 27, 2025
Wherefore it is better that we keep silence concerning this affair, for but a little remains of the night, and each go about his business. And he winked to the Khalif and whispered to him, 'There is but a little longer to wait, and to-morrow I will bring them before thee and thou canst then question them of their story. But the Khalif lifted his head and cried out angrily, 'I have not patience to wait till then: let the Calenders ask them. And Jaafer said, 'This is not well-advised. Then they consulted together, and there was much talk and dispute between them, who should put the question, before they fixed upon the porter.
None killed the damsel but I; so God on thee, make haste to hang me, or there is no living for me after her! The Vizier marvelled at all this and taking the youth and the old man, carried them before the Khalif and said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I bring thee the murderer of the damsel. 'Where is he? asked the Khalif, and Jaafer answered, 'This youth says he killed her, but this old man gives him the lie and affirms that he himself killed her: and behold, they are both in thy hands. The Khalif looked at them and said, 'Which of you killed the damsel? The youth replied, 'It was I. And the old man, 'Indeed, none killed her but myself. Then the Khalif said to Jaafer, 'Take them and hang them both. But the Vizier replied, 'If one of them be the murderer, to hang the other were unjust. 'By Him who vaulted the heavens and spread out the earth like a carpet, cried the youth, 'it was I killed her! And he set forth the circumstance of her death and how they had found her body, so that the Khalif was certified that he was the murderer, whereat he wondered and said to him, 'Why didst thou slay the damsel wrongfully and what made thee come and accuse thyself thus and confess thy crime without being beaten? 'Know, O Commander of the Faithful, answered the young man, 'that this damsel was my wife and the daughter of this old man, who is my father's brother, and she was a virgin when I married her.
Whatever ye do, we merit it: see, we cast Ourselves on your ruth! Do not exult in our pain. For we are children of sadness and low estate. Do with us what you will; we will not complain. What were your glory to slay us within your courts? Our fear is but lest you sin in working us bane. 'By Allah, said the Khalif, 'it is good, O Jaafer!
And as surely as I am descended from the sons of Abbas, an thou bring me not him who slew her, that I may do her justice on him, I will hang thee and forty of thy kinsmen at the gate of my palace! Quoth Jaafer, 'Grant me three days' respite. And the Khalif said, 'I grant thee this. So Jaafer went out from before him and returned to his house, full of sorrow and saying to himself, 'How shall I find him who killed the damsel, that I may bring him before the Khalif?
Then she clad him in a rich habit and gave him much money, bidding him be lavish of largesse to the household of the Khalif, when he went in to him. Presently, Jaafer arrived, riding on his Nubian mule, and Ghanim met him and kissed the ground before him, wishing him long life. Now was the star of his good fortune risen and shone, and Jaafer took him and brought him to the Khalif.
Then the Khalif and Jaafer and Mesrour returned to the palace, where they put off their merchants' habits and donning their apparel of state, sat down each in his several room. Then came the amirs and viziers and chamberlains and officers, and the Divan assembled as of wont.
'Be Zubeideh triply divorced, exclaimed Haroun, 'if thou shalt not either sell or give her to me! Quoth Jaafer, 'Be my wife triply divorced, if I either sell or give her to thee! After awhile they recovered from their intoxication and were ware that they had fallen into a grave dilemma, but knew not how to extricate themselves.
This, then, is my history and the manner of the loss of my right eye and the shaving of my beard and eyebrows. They all marvelled at his story, and the Khalif said to Jaafer, 'By Allah, I never heard or saw the like of what happened to this Calender. Then the mistress of the house said to the Calender, 'Begone about thy business. But he answered, 'I will not budge till I hear the others' stories. Then came forth the second Calender and kissing the earth, said, 'O my lady, I was not born blind of one eye, and my story is a marvellous one; were it graven with needles on the corners of the eye, it would serve as a warning to those that can profit by example.
'O Commander of the Faithful, answered Jaafer, 'give it to me and I will fry it for them. 'By the tombs of my forefathers, said the Khalif, 'none shall fry it but I, with my own hand! So he repaired to the keeper's hut, where he searched and found all that he required, even to salt and saffron and marjoram and so forth.
The Khalif Haroun er Reshid summoned his Vizier Jaafer one night and said to him, 'I have a mind to go down into the city and question the common people of the conduct of the officers charged with its government; and those of whom they complain, we will depose, and those whom they commend, we will advance. Quoth Jaafer, 'I hear and obey. So the Khalif and Jaafer and Mesrour went down into the town and walked about the streets and markets till, as they were passing through a certain alley, they came upon an old man walking along at a leisurely pace, with a fishing-net and a basket on his head and a staff in his hand, and heard him repeat the following verses: They tell me I shine, by my wisdom and wit, Midst the rest of my kind, as the moon in the night.
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