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"After paying many of these visits and admiring the extraordinary richness and variety of architecture, furniture and utensils to be observed in every one of the dwellings of this happy and intelligent race, Mubarek said with some astonishment "'In all this vast and incomparable city through which you have so long conducted me, one thing I observe to be lacking.
"To the great grief of his father, Mubarek, when he was twenty-three years of age, developed such a longing to travel and visit those foreign countries of which he had so often heard from other merchants his father's friends that nothing could persuade him to remain quietly in Bagdad.
"'What is the meaning of that action? Why do you clap your hands? "'I wish, said he, 'to call the slaves, who, no doubt, are in attendance in some ante-chamber. "'What, asked the others, 'are slaves? "'The servants, the attendants, explained Mubarek, 'those who do the work of the house, who wait upon us, who cook our food and bring it to us.
Besides, the speaker continued, 'we have so many forces and contrivances, unknown perhaps in the region whence you come, that, although we have plenty of work, without which we might be dull, we have no drudgery. "'That is all very easy to say, replied Mubarek, 'but who then kills the animals you eat, cooks them, and serves your table?
Bereydah abou Mubarek, having therefore furnished his son with such sorts of merchandize as would be most suitable to trade with in the countries he was about to visit, took leave of him with much emotion and many injunctions both as to his personal conduct, and the management of his affairs.
"At the place where Mubarek and his fairy companion had alighted there was situated a great and populous city. Its arrangements and magnificence were such that no city that has ever existed on our earth could be compared with it.
She talks as much perhaps as her sisters in less-favoured worlds, but never learns to scold or grumble or complain. "The fairy, however, or spirit of the air, who had brought Mubarek thither, would not accept a house or choose a wife or settle anywhere.
In fact, looking down he perceived his body lying stretched upon the grass, and still wrapped apparently in the total oblivion of the profoundest sleep. "While he was yet lost in astonishment at the marvel of this strange condition, a fairy or spirit of the air stood beside him, and addressing him said "'Mubarek, why do you stand thus gazing upon the ground? Say, to what place shall we go?
"Mubarek, as a stranger, being brought before her, as the laws of that kingdom required, she immediately fell violently in love with him, which was the less to be wondered at, inasmuch as he was a young man of pleasant features, a striking figure, and considerable personal attractions.
"Mubarek was a young man of very hot blood and fierce passions, and being brought up a strict Moslim, he was so much enraged at the Queen's scoff, that no sooner were the words out of her mouth, than drawing instantly a jewelled dagger which she wore at her girdle, he plunged it into her heart.
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