Quoth Abu Ishak Ibrahim al-Mausili:—I asked Al-Rashid once to give me
a day’s leave that I might be private with the people of my household
and my brethren, and he gave me leave for Saturday the Sabbath. So I
went home and betook myself to making ready meat and drink and other
necessaries and bade the doorkeepers shut the doors and let none come
in to me. However, presently, as I sat in my sitting-chamber, with
my women who were looking after my wants, behold, there appeared an
old man of comely and reverend aspect,[FN#119] clad in white clothes
and a shirt of fine stuff with a doctor’s turband on his head and a
silver-handled staff in his hand, and the house and porch were full
of the perfumes wherewith he was scented. I was greatly vexed at his
coming in to me and thought to turn away the doorkeepers; but he
saluted me after the goodliest fashion and I returned his greeting
and bade him be seated. So he sat down and began entertaining me with
stories of the Arabs and their verses, till my anger left me and
methought my servants had sought to pleasure me by admitting a man
of such good breeding and fine culture. Then I asked him, “Art thou
for meat?”; and he answered, “I have no need of it.” “And for drink?”
quoth I, and quoth he, “That is as thou wilt.” So I drank off a pint
of wine and poured him out the like. Then said he, “O Abu Ishak, wilt
thou sing us somewhat, so we may hear of thine art that wherein thou
excellest high and low?” His words angered me; but I swallowed my anger
and taking the lute played and sang. “Well done, O Abu Ishak!”[FN#120]
said he; whereat my wrath redoubled and I said to myself, “Is it not
enough that he should intrude upon me, without my leave, and importune
me thus, but he must call me by name, as though he knew not the right
way to address me?” Quoth he, “An thou wilt sing something more we will
requite thee.” I dissembled my annoyance and took the lute and sang
again, taking pains with what I sang and rising thereto altogether, in
consideration of his saying, “We will requite thee.”——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
Shaykh said to Abu Ishak, “If thou wilt sing something more we will
requite thee,” I dissembled my annoyance (continued Ibrahim) and,
taking the lute, sang again with great attention to my singing and
rising altogether thereto, in consideration of his saying, “We will
requite thee.” He was delighted, and cried, “Well done, O my lord!”;
presently adding, “Dost thou give me leave to sing?” “As thou wilt,”
answered I, deeming him weak of wit, in that he should think to sing in
my presence, after that which he had heard from me. So he took the lute
and swept the strings, and by Allah, I fancied they spoke in Arabic
tongue, with a sweet and liquid and murmurous voice; then he began and
sang these couplets:—
I bear a hurt heart, who will sell me for this * A heart whole
and free from all canker and smart?
Nay, none will consent or to barter or buy * Such loss, ne’er
from sorrow and sickness to part:
I groan wi’ the groaning of wine-wounded men * And pine for the
pining ne’er freeth my heart.
And by Allah, meseemed the doors and the walls and all that was in the
house answered and sang with him, for the beauty of his voice, so that
I fancied my very limbs and clothes replied to him, and I abode amazed
and unable to speak or move, for the trouble of my heart. Then he sang
these couplets:—
Culvers of Liwa![FN#121] to your nests return; * Your mournful
voices thrill this heart of mine.
Then back a-copse they flew, and well-nigh took * My life and
made me tell my secret pine.
With cooing call they one who’s gone, as though * Their breasts
were maddened with the rage of wine:
Ne’er did mine eyes their like for culvers see * Who weep yet
tear-drops never dye their eyne.