第58章 THE PORTER AND THE THREE LADIES OF BAGHDAD.(33)

'Release them，'said the Khalif；'and after we will proceed to look into the affair of the beaten ladyand if her account prove truewe will avenge her on him who wronged her.'O Commander of the Faithful，'replied she'I will release them forthwith and bring thee to the knowledge of him who maltreated this lady and took her property；and he is the nearest of all men to thee.'So sayingshe took a cup of water and muttered over it and spoke words that might not be understood. Then she threw some of the water in the faces of the bitchessaying'Return to your former human shape；'whereupon they were restored to their original formand the Afriteh said to the Khalif'O Commander of the Faithfulhe who beat this lady is thy son El Aminbrother of El Mamoun who heard of her beauty and grace and laid a trap for her and married her；and indeed he is not to blame for beating herfor he laid a condition on her and took of her a solemn oath that she would not do a certain thing；but she was false to her vow；and he was minded to kill herbut was restrained by the fear of God the Most High and contented himself with beating heras thou hast seenand sending her back to her own place.'When the Khalif heard thishe wondered greatly and said'Glory be to God the Most Highthe Supremewho hath vouchsafed me the delivery of these two damsels from enchantment and torment and hath granted me to know the secret of this lady's history！By AllahI will do a thing that shall be chronicled after me！'Then he summoned his son El Amin and questioned him of the story of the portressand he told him the truth；whereupon the Khalif sent for Cadis and witnesses and married the eldest lady and her two sisters-german to the three Calenderswhom he made his chamberlainsappointing them stipends and all that they needed and lodging them in his palace at Baghdad. Moreoverhe returned the beaten girl to her husbandhis son El Amin，renewing the marriage contract between themand gave her great wealth and bade rebuild the house more handsomely than before. As for himselfhe took to wife the cateress and lay with her that night；and on the morrow he assigned her a separate lodging in his seragliowith a fixed allowance and serving-maids to wait on her；and the people marvelled at his equity and magnificence and generosity.

When Shehrzad had made an end of her storyDunyazad said to her，'By Allahthis is indeed a pleasant and delightful storynever was heard its like！But nowO my sistertell us another story，to beguile the rest of the waking hours of our night.'With all my heart，'answered Shehrzad'if the King give me leave.'And he said'Tell thy storyand that quickly.'Then said she'They sayO King of the age and lord of the time and the daythat THE THREE APPLES.

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 complainwe will deposeand those whom they commendwe 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 tillas they were passing through a certain alleythey came upon an old man walking along at a leisurely pacewith a fishing-net and a basket on his head and a staff in his handand heard him repeat the following verses：

They tell me I shineby my wisdom and witMidst the rest of my kindas the moon in the night.

'A truce to your idle discourses！'I cry'What's knowledge，indeedunattended by might？'

If you offered meknowledge and wisdom and allwith my inkhorn and papersin pawn for a mite，To buy one day's victualthe pledge they'd reject And castlike an unread petitionfrom sight.

Sorryindeedis the case of the poorAnd his lifewhat a load of chagrin and despite！

In summerhe's pinched for a living and cowers O'er the fire-pot in winterfor warmth and for light.

The curs of the street dog his heelsas he goesAnd the scurviest rascal may rail at the wight.

If he lift up his voice to complain of his caseHe finds not a soul who will pity his plight.

Since such is the life and the lot of the poorIt were better he lay in the graveyard forthright！

When the Khalif heard thishe said to Jaafer'See yonder poor man and note his versesfor they show his necessity.'Then he went up to him and said'O old manwhat is thy trade？'O my lord，'replied he'I am a fishermanwith a family to maintain；and I have been out since mid-daybut God has not vouchsafed me aught wherewith to feed themand indeed I abhor myself and wish for death.'Quoth the Khalif'Wilt thou go back with me to the Tigris and cast thy net yet once more on my accountand I will buy of thee whatever comes up for a hundred dinars？'On my head be it！'answered the fisherman joyfully. 'I will go back with you.'So he returned with them to the river-bank and cast his net and waited awhilethen drew it up and found in it a chest，locked and heavy. The Khalif lifted it and found it weighty；so he gave the fisherman a hundred dinarsand he went his way；whilst Mesrour carried the chest to the palacewhere he set it down before the Khalif and lighted the candles. Then Jaafer and Mesrour broke open the chest and found in it a basket of palm-leavessewn together with red worsted. This they cut open and found within a bundle wrapped in a piece of carpet. Under the carpet was a woman's veil and in this a young ladyas she were an ingot of silverslain and cut in pieces. When the Khalif saw thishe was sore enraged and afflicted；the tears ran down his cheeks and he turned to Jaafer and said'O dog of a Vizier，shall folk be murdered in my capital city and thrown into the river and their death laid to my account on the Day of Judgment？

I must avenge this woman on her murderer and put him to death without mercy！And as surely as I am descended from the sons of Abbasan thou bring me not him who slew herthat I may do her justice on himI will hang thee and forty of thy kinsmen at the gate of my palace！'Quoth Jaafer'Grant me three days'respite.'