Móstafa Alvilá was califf of a conquered province in Spain, where he
reigned with oriental state. The tributary people were ground down
with hard work to minister to his treasury, and the vast sums he
amassed were spent in beautifying his Alcázar, and filling it with
costly productions from all parts. Merchants from every climate under
heaven were encouraged to come and offer him their choicest wares.
One day, a merchant of Persia brought a large pack of shawls and
carpets, all woven in gold and pearls, and wools and silks of brilliant
colours, but among them all the most beautiful was one carpet of great
price, on which Móstafa Alvilá's choice was immediately set; but in all
his treasury there was not found the price of it. Nothing would do,
he must possess it: then Ali Babá his vizier came forward and said,
"Let ten thousand dogs of Christians be sold, and with the price of
them you shall purchase the carpet."
Móstafa Alvilá answered and said, "The advice is good!" So they sent
and sold ten thousand Christians, and with the price of them the
carpet was bought.
Móstafa Alvilá sat contemplating the curious devices, and tracing
the wonderful arabesque patterns with which the carpet was covered;
and there was one pattern, all shining with gold and pearls, quite
prominent in the centre, which had a likeness to the characters of
an inscription; and when Móstafa Alvilá saw it, he was very curious
to know if it was an inscription, and what it meant, so he sent to
recall the merchant; but he was gone from the Alcázar. Then he sent
his servants after him, and though they travelled three days' journey
by every road, they could neither find him nor obtain any tidings
of whither he had passed. Then Móstafa Alvilá was more curious, and
sent and gathered all the learned men in his califate, and inquired
of them what the inscription might mean. They all looked troubled,
and said they could not tell, they had never seen such letters. But
one there was who concealed the difficulty he was in so ill, that
Móstafa Alvilá saw he knew what the writing meant, so he looked very
severely upon him and threatened him with instant death if he did
not tell him exactly what the writing was.
Then the interpreter, when he found there was no other way to save
his life, with great fear and trembling said, this is the meaning
thereof:--
"Shiroes, son of Chosroes, killed his father; and he died six
months after."
Móstafa Alvilá was greatly troubled when he heard the sentence;
for he had ascended the califate by killing his father, and he had
reigned six months all but one day. So he sent and commanded that the
interpreter and all who had heard the sentence should be put to death,
that no one might know the omen.
But that night, in the middle of the dark hours, when Móstafa Alvilá
was alone in his chamber, a horrible vision came to him. He thought
he saw the body of his father whom he had murdered rise up to convict
him. He sunk down in his bed, and covered his face in fear and horror.
In the morning, when they came to call him, they found only his
lifeless corpse.